Higher food prices push up Uganda inflation in August

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda's year-on-year inflation rate rose to the highest in a year in August due to drought driving food prices higher, the statistics office said on Friday. Overall inflation in the year to August climbed to 7.3 percent, from 5.1 percent in July, after crop prices rose 16 percent in a month. "This was mainly attributed to decreased food supplies to the market due to the effects of the long dry spell that affected most parts of the country," the Uganda Bureau of Statistics said. The overall monthly food group index rose 7.5 percent, whereas non-food inflation increased by only 0.4 percent, over the year, the statistics office said. Food prices carry a 27.2 percent weighting in the consumer price index. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics said the core inflation rate climbed to 6.6 percent from 6.4 percent in July. The central bank will hold its regulary monthly policy meeting on Tuesday.