Small-scale traders across Rwanda are facing growing economic hardship as rising global fuel prices, linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East, continue to disrupt transport, trade, and household spending.
From vegetable vendors in Kigali’s neighborhood markets to meat sellers and milk traders, many say the increase in fuel costs has sharply reduced customer numbers, raised transportation expenses, and made it increasingly difficult to support their families.
At Kabagari mini-market in Kacyiru, several traders told Taarifa Rwanda that the current situation is beginning to resemble the economic strain experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The situation has brought back memories of COVID-19,” one vegetable trader said.
For 36-year-old Mukashema Leokaziya, a single mother of two who has spent more than eight years selling vegetables and foodstuffs, recent months have brought uncertainty and financial losses.
“I have two children in school, and this small business is my only source of income,” she said.
“But because of the disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East and the rise in fuel prices, we are making losses almost every day.”
Mukashema explained that traders often leave home before dawn to buy produce in bulk from markets such as Nyabugongo and Mulindi before reselling it in Kigali neighborhoods.
However, transport fares have nearly doubled, forcing traders to increase prices — something many customers struggle to understand.
“For example, we used to buy one kilogram of fresh beans at around Rwf700 and sell it at Rwf1,000.
Today, the same kilogram costs between Rwf1,900 and Rwf2,000,” she said.
She added that Irish potatoes now cost about Rwf900 per kilogram, depending on the variety, while tomatoes have also become significantly more expensive.
“Today, Rwf300 can get you just one tomato. Clients think we are exploiting them, but this is beyond our control,” she said.
According to Mukashema, even sourcing produce directly from farms in distant provinces no longer guarantees lower prices.
“At the beginning of the conflict, the situation was worse. Sometimes we would go to Nyabugongo and return empty-handed.
Now, a few products are slowly becoming available again,” she explained.
Customer Numbers Fall Sharply
Another trader, Aline Niyonsaba, said the fuel crisis has severely reduced customer traffic at the market.
“I used to wake up at 4 a.m., go to Nyabugongo or Mulindi, buy fresh produce, and sell everything within a day because many customers working in nearby ministries would buy in large quantities,” she said.
“Today, even after investing large amounts of money, some produce such as tomatoes rots before it is sold.”
Niyonsaba estimates that customer numbers have dropped by more than 50 percent.
“I don’t blame my customers because everyone is struggling. Only God knows how long this situation will continue,” she added.
Meat Traders Feeling the Pressure
The impact is also being felt in the meat business.
Valens Musilamu, a butcher in Kigali, said he has drastically reduced the amount of meat he purchases daily due to declining demand.
“Before the Middle East conflict escalated, I used to buy between 50 and 100 kilograms of meat every day,” he said. “Now, even selling 50 kilograms is difficult.”
According to Musilamu, retail meat prices have increased from around Rwf7,000 to nearly Rwf7,500 per kilogram.
“This scares away clients,” he said. “Many are now turning to cheaper alternatives such as beans, vegetables, and groundnuts — which are also becoming more expensive.”
Longer Working Hours to Survive
Christine Mukamongi, a single mother of three who sells milk and groceries, said she has been forced to extend her working hours in order to survive.
“Before, I would sell between 30 and 50 litres of milk every day and close by 8 p.m. because customers were many,” she said.
“But now I work from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m., and my teenage daughter takes over until 10:30 p.m. We created shifts just to try and increase sales.”
Mukamongi said declining purchasing power among ordinary Rwandans is affecting nearly every small business.
“People still need food, but many can no longer afford to buy the quantities they used to,” she said.
Exporters Affected by Flight Disruptions
The crisis has also affected Rwanda’s horticulture export sector.
A 26-year-old avocado exporter, who requested anonymity, said disruptions in international flights and freight routes caused severely affected exports to Europe and Asia.
“Due to instability in the Middle East and the cancellation of some flights, we have had to return produce to warehouses, which increases costs and sometimes leads to losses,” she said.
“Transport rates have skyrocketed. Clients still have demand, but we did not have the capacity to deliver consistently.”
She added that when freight space become available, shipping costs doubled higher than before.
What Government says
The Rwandan government has acknowledged the pressure caused by rising global fuel prices and inflation.
In recent months, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) have continued reviewing fuel prices in line with international market fluctuations while encouraging improvements in public transport efficiency and supply chain stabilization.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has also urged traders to avoid unjustified price hikes while monitoring the prices of essential commodities across markets.
Economists say Rwanda, like many import-dependent economies, remains highly vulnerable to global fuel shocks because transportation costs directly influence the prices of food and other basic goods.
Officials have previously stated that the government is exploring long-term solutions, including strengthening local food production, improving storage systems, and reducing dependence on imported fuel.
However, for many small-scale traders, relief cannot come soon enough.
As evening falls over Kabagari mini-market, traders continue waiting for customers, hoping tomorrow will bring better sales and lower transport costs.
By Andrew Shyaka
