Weighing scales are quietly disappearing from markets across Mbale and other parts of Uganda as traders increasingly sell food in small, affordable ‘heaps’, reflecting changing household budgets under cost-of-living pressure.
Economists say the trend signals a shift in consumer behaviour driven by shrinking disposable incomes, even as official inflation figures remain relatively moderate.
Instead of buying in kilograms or bulk quantities, customers now commonly request food worth Shs1,000, Shs2,000 or Shs5,000, forcing traders to break produce into informal portions that match what buyers can afford.
At Mbale Central Market, vendors say the practice has become the new normal.
Ms Grace Nandawula, a 70-year-old tomato and potato trader, arranges her produce each morning into small piles laid directly on sacks.
‘Customers no longer ask for a kilogram; they look at the heap and ask the price,’ she said, adding: ‘They come with small money and say, ‘Give me for Shs1,000 or Shs2,000.’ If I insist on kilograms, they will walk away.’
She said the shift has helped traders keep sales moving despite rising wholesale prices.
‘Sometimes you may think you are losing, but at least you sell something. If you insist on large quantities, you will be left with goods that rot,’ she said on Monday.
Other traders report similar adjustments. Mr Isaac Wanyama, an onion seller, said even wholesale costs have pushed traders to rethink how they sell.
‘Before, a customer could buy half a kilogram or even a full sack. Now most people just pick small heaps,’ he said, adding: ‘If you don’t adjust, you go home with unsold stock.’
For consumers, the system is both a relief and a limitation.
Ms Sharon Nakiwala, a mother of three, said she now buys food for single meals rather than weekly supplies.
‘Everything is expensive, so I just take what I can cook for that day,’ she said.
Mr Daniel Okello, a father of five, said heap buying allows him to control daily spending.
‘With heaps, I can enter the market with Shs2,000 and still find something to take home,’ he said.
However, he noted inconsistencies in the system.
‘Sometimes you don’t know if the heap you are given is the same size as yesterday. It depends on the seller,’ he said.
Economic stress
Uganda Bureau of Statistics data shows inflation has remained around 3-4 percent in recent months, with food inflation relatively lower.
However, economists say such figures do not fully reflect pressures in informal markets where prices fluctuate frequently.
Dr Patrick Byaruhanga, a retired economist at the Islamic University in Uganda, said the shift reflects economic stress at household level.
‘What we are seeing is a shift in consumption behaviour. When incomes are constrained and prices rise, people move from bulk purchasing to micro-purchasing,’ he said.
He said while the system helps markets function, it reduces standardisation and makes price comparisons difficult.
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has acknowledged that informal practices such as heap selling are widespread, especially for fresh produce.
Mr Abubaker Bakulumpagi, Principal Certification Officer and Head of the MSME Division at UNBS, said the bureau is focusing on awareness rather than enforcement alone.
‘We recognise that many small traders operate in informal systems where standard measurements are not always used,’ he said.
He added that UNBS is working with district commercial officers to improve trader education on standards and measurement practices.
Mbale District Commercial Officer Ms Irene Buteme said officers are being trained to engage traders directly in markets.
‘We are now being equipped to go beyond office work and reach them directly in markets and trading centres,’ she said.
Mr Abubakar Musosi, Chairperson of Mbale Central Market, said heap selling has become widespread but needs clearer guidance.
‘We are not saying heap selling should stop, but authorities should help traders balance affordability with fairness,’ he said.
As Uganda’s markets continue to adapt, traders say the disappearance of weighing scales reflects a deeper economic reality: survival now depends on flexibility, not standard measures.