Tomato shortage bites Elgon as prices skyrocket after flash floods

The recent destructive flash floods have sent tomato prices soaring, leaving traders and consumers across the Elgon region of Bugisu, Teso and Sebei struggling with one of the worst shortages in years.

Persistent rains have led to widespread flooding and washed away gardens in major tomato-growing areas such as Muyembe, Kapsinda, Kawowo, Nalugugu, Mufudu, Mutufu, and the upper belt of Kapchorwa district.

As a result, the once readily available tomatoes are now a rare and costly commodity in markets, especially in Mbale city.

Traders feel the pinch

In Mbale’s markets, a kilogramme of tomatoes is now going for shillings 14,000, up from 5,500 just three months ago.

“I have lost nearly 50% of my earnings because I cannot stock enough to meet my customers’ demand,” Rebeca Nambuya, a trader in Mbale, said on August 28, 2025.

“The produce from within cannot sustain the market, so we must look to Kenya and Tanzania. But importing comes with high transport costs, distribution challenges and taxes.”

Another trader, Simon Watenga, suspects the crisis is partly worsened by the over-export of Ugandan tomatoes to neighbouring countries such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya.

“Government should intervene and regulate exportation so that we prioritise our domestic market during such crises,” Watenga said.

Retailers and consumers struggle

Retailers are among the hardest hit, with many unable to cope with the frequently changing prices.

Esther Nambuya, a tomato retailer, said the situation is driving many small traders out of business.

“Making profits against the current prices is tough. Consumers complain every day, but we have no choice,” she explained.

Climate change factor

The Elgon region was devastated by nature just a couple of weeks ago. The floods were triggered by persistent heavy rains on the slopes of Mount Elgon.

The floods swept through several Mbale city suburbs, destroying homes, businesses, roads, and bridges.

According to disaster response teams, the flooding left a few people dead and many more displaced, with several households losing property and farmland.

Key rivers, including Nabuyonga and Namatala, burst their banks, overwhelming drainage systems and submerging some parts of the city, such as schools, health centres, and water supply systems, compounding the humanitarian crisis.

Farmers in Bugisu and Sebei were particularly hard-hit, with their gardens of maize, beans, and tomatoes washed away.

Local leaders and residents have attributed the recurring disasters to deforestation, poor urban planning, and climate change, calling for urgent interventions in reforestation, drainage improvement, and resettlement of at-risk communities.

Climate change activists say the persistent rains and resulting floods are part of a broader crisis.

Joel Cherop, a climate change advocate, blamed irresponsible environmental practices for worsening weather patterns.

“Our reckless interaction with nature is fuelling unpredictable weather. Unless all stakeholders act, we will continue to suffer crop losses and unstable prices,” he said.