Inflation: fears of unrest in SA, Uganda looming large as food prices soar

The rising price of basic foods is worsening South Africa’s food security crisis which could increase social instability and spark a repeat of the devastating July 2021 unrest that spiraled out of control. Meanwhile, in Uganda, people in the eastern city of Jinja have taken to the streets protesting the rapidly rising cost of living.
Food Forward South Africa, an organization, whose aim is to tackle hunger in poor communities, has warned that 30 million people in the country are experiencing food insecurity. South African consumer inflation surged to a 13-year high last month mainly driven by rising transport and food prices. Staples such as maize meal has increased by about 11% on a year-to-year basis, flour by 24%, five liter of cooking oil increased by about 69%, brown bread by about 15%. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that, on the ground, consumers are saying their pockets cannot sustain their livelihoods.
The street protests in Uganda come a day after authorities in the East African country warned of an alleged plot by some “within the country and abroad“, using “illegitimate and unconstitutional means“ to „purposely cause change in government“, to encourage people to stay indoors for three days to protest inflation that has reduced the purchasing value of the Uganda shilling. A liter of petrol (gasoline) in the capital, Kampala, is now selling at a record price of over US$1.70, or about US$6.90 per gallon, and sometimes even higher in other parts of the country. Ugandan authorities blame inflationary pressures mostly on the war in Ukraine.