By Bosco King
The agonising wait for grasshoppers, commonly known as nsenene, for the people of Arua City, is over.
Normally appearing at the start of November, many consumers and traders alike were left to wonder whether they would get to enjoy the delicacy that due to a scarcity that has lasted over a fortnight, was being sold at eye-watering prices.
That has now changed after a dramatic increase in supply from neighbouring West Nile districts that has seen the prices of the delicacy fall to sh2000 a cup from sh5000 last week.
Jesca Bako, a grasshopper seller in Awindiri Market on the Arua-Pakwach road, noted on Tuesday, November 21, that the grasshoppers are aplenty in Arua City and that is why a cup is selling for only sh2000.
At the height of the scarcity last week, a sack that is now being sold at sh120,000 went for sh190,000.
Most of the grasshoppers are brought from Wari trading centre in Kango Sub-County, Zombo District.
Zaituni Acirocan, an elderly grasshopper vendor in Awindiri Market, said she is very happy that the nsenene are back, and thanked God for their return in plenty because it is a unique source of food for the people of West Nile.
Alex Oyero, a businessman and LC1 chairman for Awinidiri cell in Arua Central Division, Arua City, said in 2021, the grasshoppers came towards November 25 after a slow start, while last year, they came around November 15, and expressed optimism that they will come to Arua.
“I am very hopeful that they are still on the way coming because that is God’s program,” he said.
Oyero said he had spent over sh3,100,000 on setting up grasshopper traps and had only collected sh300,000.
