No. 4
VISIT TO KAMPALA FISH MARKETS
18 MAY 1989

By

J.E. Reynolds & C.T. Mukasa

This is one in a series of Field Reports by the Socio-Economic Working Group of FAO/UNDP Project UGA/87/007, Fisheries Statistics and Information Systems (FISHIN). Socio-Economic Field Reports (SEC Fld Rpts) are intended as occasional working documents/briefs/notes covering on-going Group activities, issued for the information of Project team members and other interested colleagues. Length, format, and content vary according to the type and scope of activity reviewed (field trips, surveys, studies, workshops, etc.). It is cautioned that observations and findings presented in the Reports should be treated as preliminary and subject to further verification. Correspondence, comments, and suggestions are welcomed and may be forwarded to: J.Eric Reynolds, Socio-Economic Advisor, UGA/87/007, FAO/UN, P.O. Box 521, Kampala, Uganda.

1. INTRODUCTION

E. Reynolds and C. Mukasa of the project socioeconomic team carried out a day tour of Kampala area wholesale and retail fish markets on the above date. They were accompanied by Mr. B. Frielink, Co-ordinator of the the EEC Rehabilitation of Artisinal Fisheries Project, who kindly provided transportation. The purpose of the visit was to obtain a preliminary appreciation of the fish marketing practices and Fisheries Department marketing data collection procedures in Kampala, the largest consumer centre for fish in the country. A further purpose was to become acquainted with some of the Fisheries Department staff and local traders who operate at the different urban markets, since future work within the project will rely on the cooperation of these individuals. The markets visited and persons met are listed below. A summary of reported and observed fish prices by product and market is provided in Table 1.

Kampala Ice Plant

Kawempe Market

Wandegeya Market

Fish, meat, and produce traders.

Nakivubo (“Shauri Yako”) Market

Kibuye Market

Katwe Market

2. KAMPALA ICE PLANT

Plant operations and history were briefly described by the General Manager, Mr. Nsimbe-Bulega. Facilities were established in 1981 with technical and financial assistance from the People's Republic of China. Initial investment cost was on the order of Ł300,000 Sterling. The original plan was to provide an ice plant combined with a central fish market for Kampala. In addition to the ice making/ice store/freezing room/cold store complex, therefore, a covered wholesale selling area was constructed along with 26 retail market stalls. The design of the latter allows for fresh fish to be displayed on crushed ice under a screen cover. Unfortunately the market aspect of the operation never developed, and the wholesale area and retail stalls stand idle.

Fresh, frozen, and smoked fish (tilapia and Nile perch) can be purchased by the public from the plant, but the volume of sales is extremely low and the supply is not always reliable. During the month of March 1989 some 272 kg of tilapia were sold for a total of Ushs 54,380/=; sales of 197 kg of frozen Nile perch worth a total of Ushs 33,558/=, and of 131 kg of smoked Nile perch worth Ushs 34,295/= were recorded for the same period. The failure of the plant to develop its market facilities may be due in part to its location in the industrial area, since it is thus somewhat isolated from the residential estate areas and the city centre.

The plant produces block ice using brine coolant. It is capable of a daily output of 5 tonnes, produced in two batches of 2.5 tonnes each. Actual output depends upon such factors as the electricity supply, customer demand, maintenance closures, etc. In March 1989 ice block production was 106 tonnes, or about 3.5 tonnes per day. A team of four Chinese technical staff live on the plant compound and maintain the cooling equipment. Most ice is sold to city hotels, bars, and beverage firms. Additional revenue is generated through the production and sale of ice lollies and the rental of cold storage facilities to various individuals and organisations. The plant is operated and staffed by the Department of Fisheries. Overall financial performance of the plant was not determined in detail, but the low level of fish sales makes it doubtful that full profit potential is being achieved. Reported profit for March 1989 operations was Ushs 1,189,817/=.

3. KAWEMPE MARKET

Kawempe is situated on the northern outskirts of the city and serves as Kampala's chief wholesale market for tilapia (=ngege). Fish are transported in from Lake Kyoga in pickups. The Kyoga traders formerly delivered their fish to Katwe market closer to the centre of town. They switched to Kawempe during the late 1970s to escape harassment by military personnel, who would sometimes seize fish by force. Initially fishmongers simply parked along the verge of Bombo Road and sold off loads from the back of their vehicles. Eventually, in 1982, the management of the West Mengo Coffee Growers Cooperative Union offered them a plot near the Cooperative's workshop, and this became the Kawempe fish market. The traders later formed their own cooperative, the Kawempe Growers Fishmonger Cooperative Society, in order to help develop the market and provide members with credit and saving facilities.

Some eight or nine pickups arrive at Kawempe from Kyoga every day, usually between the hours of 12 noon and 1500. They operate principally from three landing sites on the lake, including Dagala (consistently the largest source of supply), Kiguli, and Lwampanga. Each of these landings is serviced by three pickups running to and from Kawempe. The trucks are usually very heavily loaded with fish, carrying on average one tonne apiece. Thus up to about 8 or 9 tonnes of tilapia can appear at the market on those days when the Kyoga catches are high. According to the Kawempe Fisheries Assistant, 242 tonnes of fresh tilapia valued at Ushs 28 million were off-loaded during the month of March 1989. It is remarked that transporters often allow passengers and their baggage to sit atop the loads, and that the quality of the product may suffer accordingly. Consignments are sorted after purchase at the landing sites, so that there are sections of large-, medium-, and small-sized fish making up each pickup truck load.

Once at the market, buyers quickly gather round the back of the trucks and sales immediately commence. There are some 200 traders who regularly appear at Kawempe. All are small-scale fishmongers who buy wheelbarrow- and bicycle- sized loads of tilapia which will be sold later in the day in neighbourhood markets around and about the city, and even by some on a door-to-door basis. Prices fluctuate according to supply, and some bargaining occurs between transporters and wholesale buyers as the fish are examined in the back of the trucks. There does not seem to be a true auction system in operation however, and for the most part prices are fixed and can be negotiated only within very narrow margins. On the day of the visit, “large” (2 kg) fish were going for Ushs 400/=, “medium” (1 kg) fish for 180/=, and “small” (.5 kg) fish for 100/=.

The Municipal authorities assess both sellers and buyers market fees. In the case of the sellers, the fee can be anywhere from Ushs 400/= to 1000/=., depending upon the size of the pickup load being brought in. Buyers are charged a fee of Ushs 50/= per load of fish that leaves the market, regardless of its weight. This fee is payable to the Kawempe Market Master (Kampala City Council).

The status of Kawempe Market is now being questioned by the City Council and it appears that it will be closed in the near future. The land upon which the market stands is actually owned by the West Mengo Coffee Growers Cooperative Union. The Union's Management Committee wants to refurbish the market area but the City Council has objected to these plans. The Council wants instead to take over the market area because its by-laws specify that no individual or group can own a market area. The dispute will probably result in total closure since Union officials are likely to develop their property along other lines in the face of the Council's stand. The market is currently due to be shut down at the end of July 1989.

As a wholesale fish market, Kawempe could certainly use some basic improvements. A few roughly constructed wooden cleaning racks have been erected to one side of the open buying area where the pickups park, but there is no water supply and sanitation appears to be rather poor. There are no provisions for the disposal of scales and offal by those traders who choose to clean their fish at the market site. Fortunately these latter are very few in number as most traders transport and sell fish without cleaning and gutting them.

4. WANDEGEYA MARKET

Wandegeya is a large neighbourhood market situated close to the University. It lies at the base of Makerere Hill Road at its intersection with Bombo Road. All manner of goods and foodstuffs are available here, including fresh meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit, dried fish, groundnuts, simsim, maize meal, spices and condiments, and basic household supplies and equipment. Fresh fish traders had not yet come with their consignments from Kawempe by the time the team arrived at Wandegeya around 1400h.

The team therefore visited first with several butchers and processed fish traders. It was learned that the price of fresh beef was Ushs 500/kg (600/kg for steak). The butchers reported that meat prices remain fairly stable although there is some seasonal variation. This is especially true around Christmas when demand tends to be high and supplies rather limited. Beef was said to be the most popular meat sold by far. Mutton, with a reported price of Ushs 500/kg, is rarely found in local markets; chevon (goatmeat) is widely available but commands a price somewhat higher than beef, ranging from Ushs 500/= up to 600/kg.

Processed fish traders at Wandegeya deal in smoked tilapia and Nile perch (= mputa), and in dried haplochromines (= nkejje). “Hard” smoked tilapia is sold according to small, medium, and large size categories at piece prices of Ushs 200/=, 350/=, and 400/= respectively. Traders estimated that the shelf life of this product could be up to two months. The smoked Nile perch pieces on display were said to have a shelf life of only a few days, owing to the oily nature of the fish and the fact that the smoking-drying process used was very light. Prices for smoked Nile perch ranged from Ushs 500 to Ushs 1000, depending on size of piece. Haplochromines are dried at landing sites by first being skewered on a small stick, some 12 or 13 fish per stick, and then set out in the sun. Ten sticks are loosely woven into a ‘mat’ and mats are bundled together when the fish is transported to market. Mats may be separated into their inidividual sticks again for sale at the retail level. The Wandegeya price for these nkejje sticks was quoted as Ushs 100/= each.

Two traders in fresh tilapia arrived by around 1430h from Kawempe with a bundle of fish. They informed the team that they set their prices according to supply levels each day. Customers may bargain with the traders, but within a limited range. It was reported that of late fresh tilapia prices have been running as follows:

• small size: buy Kawempe at Ushs 100/=, sell Wandegeya at 150/=.

• medium size: buy Kawempe at Ushs 130–180/=, sell Wandegeya at 180–200/=.

• large size: buy Kawempe at Ushs 350–400/=, sell Wandegeya at 400–450/=.

5. NAKIVUBO (“SHAURI YAKO”) MARKET

Nakivubo Market, also called “Shauri Yako” Market, lies across from the main bus and taxi park close to the middle of the city. Along with Nakasero and Owino markets, it ranks as the largest and most important of Kampala's trading centres. These main markets all supply a range of goods but each is known for its specialities. Thus, Nakasero is foremost as a produce market which caters especially to the international community. Owino has a reputation as a used clothing emporium. And Nakivubo is known as good place to obtain hardware goods. It is also particularly popular amongst city workers as a place to eat cheap but filling midday meals. The market is extremely crowded and busy, and the volume of trade is such that it spills over onto an expanse of open ground behind the original market structures. Many traders and kiosk operators have set up additional stalls on this extra ground.

One section of Nakivubo is devoted to trade in dried and smoked fish, and in fact serves as the largest processed fish market in the city. Some 22 wholesale traders (17 men and 5 women) and 150 retail traders (90 men and 60 women) operate here and sell nearly every variety of processed fish produced in the country. It is reported that the volume of trade for April 1989 was about 80 tonnes. Products commonly available include smoked Nile perch, tilapia, Clarias mossambicus (= male), Clarias alluaudi (= nsonzi), Bagrus (= ssemtundu), and Barbus altianalis (= kisinja), sun-dried juvenile tilapia (= bambara), Rastrineobola argentea (= mukene), and haplochromines (= nkejje), and dried and salted Alestes baremose (= angara) from Lake Albert.

The team circulated around the fish section and talked to several of the traders in the company of Mr. G. Nsereko (Deputy Chairman of Nakivubo Fishmongers and Treasurer, Nakivubo Multipurpose Cooperative Society) and Mr. F. Musoke (Fish Marketing Assistant). The following information on products and prices was briefly collected:

• Dried nkejje from Lake Victoria were being sold at Ushs 50/= per stick, or 350/= per 10 stick mat (130 fish).

• Smoked nsonzi were selling retail for around Ushs 250/= per skewer or stick of 12. Normally sticks are sold in either half or quarter sizes. These catfish are collected mostly from river margins and swamps during times of flood.

• Smoked tilapia ranged in price from as little as Ushs 50/= per piece to as much as 500/=, depending on the size. The sun-dried tilapia observed were all juvenile fish. This product is known as bambara locally and pieces ranged in price from Ushs 50/= up to 80/=, varying with size.

• Smoked pieces of Nile perch come in a variety of sizes. Smaller fish may be split longitudinally, smoked, and sold as a whole piece. Depending on size, prices range between Ushs 50/= and 300/=. Shelf life is said to vary between three days and a month, according to how lightly or heavily the fish pieces are smoked.

• Dried mukene were observed in considerable quantities, and are reported to be especially popular with Kampala's Luo community. Ethnic Luos are well represented amongst the traders in Nakivubo, and most if not all of the mukene traders are of Luo origin. Mukene is reportedly not nearly so well appreciated by people of other ethnic groups in Uganda. The dried product is sold by various units, ranging from the small handful through different sizes of cooking fat tins up to the paraffin debe (20 litres) and finally the whole gunny sack. It is roughly estimated that mukene are currently retailing for Ushs 360/kg when sold by the paraffin debe (about 5 kg for Ushs 1800/=). The unit price probably appreciates greatly as smaller measures are used. The product is quite bulky and even half a kilogramme of fish amounts to a considerable pile.

• One trader encountered was offering split, salted and sun-dried angara (= A. baremose) from Lake Albert, and reported that he specialised in this product. His asking price per fish was Ushs 200–250/=, or the equivalent of about 330/kg It is however rare to find angara in this part of the country since most of Uganda's Lake Albert catches are transported across the border to Zaire, where the salted fish enjoys a good market.

6. KIBUYE MARKET

Kibuye is located near the intersection of Masaka and Entebbe roads, just south of the main city. The market deals primarily in processed fish, though a small amount of fresh fish (mostly tilapia) is sold. Men were observed selling fresh fish, but the market otherwise seems to be dominated by women traders, who almost exclusively handle the processed products. In April 1989 the volume of processed fish sold was reported as 9.3 tonnes, worth an estimated UShs 5.6 million. A total of some 83 women, 10 wholesalers and 73 retailers, now make up the regular trading force at Kibuye. Men traders number only 6, of whom one is a wholesaler and the rest are retailers. All fish sold originates from Lake Victoria and adjoining waters. Species seen during the visit included Bagrus docmac, Barbus altianalis, Clarias alluaudi, Clarias mossambicus, and haplochromines in addition to Nile perch, tilapia, and mukene. Prices of various products were noted as follows.

• Pieces of smoked B. docmac (ssemtundu) were selling for the equivalent of around Ushs 1000/kg; pieces are not actually sold by weight but on the basis of size and appearance. One of the women traders interviewed reported that she bought her whole smoked fish for Ushs 1000/-, and expected to sell it for about 1200/=. The same trader was also selling what appeared to be smoked swim bladders (= ennuni) of B. docmac, skewered on sticks. One skewer of six pieces was selling for Ushs 300/= (bought wholesale at 250/=).

• Smoked Barbus altianalis (kisinja) was selling for about Ushs 850/kg Only one fish was being offered for sale on this day, and it was not of good quality. The trader said that she bought it for Ushs 700/= and hoped to sell it for 800/=. She also observed that the same fish in good condition would have been purchased wholesale for Ushs 1000/= and sold retail for 1300/=.

• Smoked C. mossambicus (male) was being offered retail for around Ushs 950–1000/kg, having been bought wholesale for about 800/kg.

• Limited quantities of dried haplochromines were observed. These were being sold in the common skewered fashion, with 12 or 13 fish per stick. One stick was priced at Ushs 30/=, and a mat of 10 sticks at 350/= (wholesale price 300/=). The price per kilogramme of these nkejje is reckoned at Ushs 367/= by the Fisheries Market Assistants.

• Dried Rastrineobola were being offered by only one trader in the market on the day of visit. She was selling in units of handfuls only (Ushs 30/= each), having bought one debe (20 litre paraffin tin) or about 5 kilogrammes of mukene for Ushs 800/=. The number of handfuls contained in one debe is not known but will be determined in due course.

• Smoked tilapia was for sale in the range of Ushs 150–500/=, according to size of fish. Price per kilogramme is reckoned by market assistants at around Ushs 387/=. After Nile perch, tilapia is the most common fish sold at Kibuye.

• Smoked Nile perch, like tilapia, was being sold by a number of traders. Price was around Ushs 700/kg, though transactions are not by weight but by size of piece. Thus, half a juvenile fish amounting to about 0.5kg was being offered at Ushs 350/= (wholesale price 300/=).

• Of the fresh fish the team observed during the visit, tilapia were being sold by size -- Ushs 150/= for small (about 0.5 kg), Ushs 300/= for medium (about 1 kg or a little more), and Ushs 600/= for large (about 2.5 kg). Traders noted that whereas the evening price for a large fish was currently around Ushs 600/=, the morning price was around 800/=. Two fresh Bagrus were also seen on sale at a price of Ushs 2,500/= per fish (3–4 kg each).

7. KATWE MARKET

Katwe is the main wholesale market for fresh Nile perch in Kampala. It lies between Kibuye and the city centre and adjoins a large housing estate of the same name. Fish is supplied exclusively from Lake Victoria, and arrives in pick-ups from various nearby landing sites. About 8 pick-ups arrive per day, carrying up to a tonne of fish apiece. During the month of April 1989, approximately 65 tonnes of fish with a value of some UShs 12 million reportedly passed through the market. This trade was almost wholly comprised of Nile perch. Fish are generally auctioned on a one-by-one basis directly from the back of the trucks. Prices fluctuate according to the time of day and the overall supply of fish. Some months ago they were varying from as low as Ushs 40/kg to as high as Ushs 100/kg. But recently the price has risen quite dramatically. In April 1989 the Market Assistants reported that Katwe Nile perch were selling at Ushs 185/kg. or at the same level as fresh tilipia.

The City Council charges sellers a fee for the use of the market. Each pick-up is assessed according to its load, with a usual minimum of Ushs 500/= and a maximum of Ushs 2000/= (for a full load) being levied.

There are over 200 fish buyers who frequent Katwe Market. Most purchase fish in small amounts (a bicycle or wheelbarrow load) for resale at neighbourhood markets. A considerable quantity of Katwe fish are channelled into the Kampala evening street vending trade. Vendors fry up chunks of Nile perch in its own fat and offer them for sale to passersby as snacks. Such fried mputa is known locally as sabulenya, a name which connotes something that is rich in appearance, glistening with oil, and tempting to eat. Sabulenya is especially appreciated by those who patronise neighbourhood bars and waragi (local gin) shops, as it is considered a good food to complement drinking sessions.

Traders who want to sell their mputa in fillets or steaks, or who plan to fry them up as chunks of sabulenya, can avail themselves of the services of numerous young men who clean and prepare fish on wooden frames to one side of the auction area. No running water or drainage is provided in the cleaning area, but it is kept fairly tidy since sweepers are paid by the fish handlers to look after it every day.

Although Katwe is basically a market for Nile perch, Clarias, Bagrus, and tilapia are available in limited quantities from time to time. On the day of visit, fresh Clarias of 6–7 kg were being offered at Ushs 2000/= per fish or roughly Ushs 300/kg

Before departing Katwe, the team briefly visited the shop and offices of the Katwe Fish Dealers and Packing Cooperative Society Ltd., which also seems to operate under the name of Katwe Cold Storage. The shop formerly used to offer fillets of Nile perch and tilapia for sale in a refrigerated display shelf. The condenser of this unit broke down some time ago however and the shop now only provides fresh, unchilled fillets on order. The walk-in trade is welcomed but a customer cannot count on fish being available without prior arrangement. The society also regularly supplies fillets to Highfields, one of Kampala's leading butcheries. The society reportedly used to do a good business in the walk-in trade, and it is difficult to understand why it has allowed its facilities to become run down. Kampala's butcheries, hotels, and large international community would seem to provide a ready market for well handled fish fillets.

8. GENERAL REMARKS

• The tour described amounted just to a day's programme and thus covered only a limited number of Kampala area markets. Information collected is in many respects preliminary and incomplete. Nevertheless, the major outlets for fresh and processed fish were observed, general features noted, and useful contacts established with Fisheries Department staff, City Council market officials, and a number of traders.

• Further visits will be made to other markets in due course, and a Working Paper is being prepared on the overall situation in Kampala with regard to fish supply, distribution, and sale, as well as the characteristics of the present marketing data collection system.

TABLE 1. WHOLESALE & RETAIL PRICES (UShs) BY PRODUCT & MARKET

*   Kg unit prices are based on Fisheries Market Assistants' monthly reports for April 1989.
** Nakivubo and Kibuye markets also have some wholesale trade.