The Charcoal Deal

I woke up in Fort Portal this morning around 4.30 when the first matatus cruised the streets crying out for passengers to stuff into their jam-packed cabins which go off to Kasese or Kampala.

I left at 7:00 and bought charcoal on the way to Kampala. Charcoal bought up-country at a low price makes you popular among people in Kampala, who struggle with a higher price level.

Charcoal is used particularly for cooking food (adds the smoky flavour which makes any East African feel at home), but last week the government also recommended charcoal fired stoves for warming premature born babies in the countryside (!) A bag for sale on the road from Fort Portal to Kampala costs 7000 UGX (about three US dollars). Mzungu price, of course.

My Ugandan passenger, John, negotiated it down to 5500 UGX, apparently a reasonable resident price. I like bargaining, but I find it hard to ask for a reduction in this case - it does take some labour to make the charcoal (reducing the forests in Uganda), stuff it into a bag, and then load it on my car.

Makes you wonder why the environmentally friendly NGO I work for doesn’t have a policy for buying and transporting charcoal.

Comments

[The 27th Comrade]

Well ... when it fits the NGO's purse, a blind eye can be turned. ;o)

Oh, and yes, it can be fun to see some Danes getting fleeced by some hawkers and salesmen (Mzungu price) ... and we are quiet accomplices. :o) Helps the economy. :oD