Overview:
Whereas the Tanzanian route is longer, hence making transportation costly compared to the Kenyan route, the government says at least 20 percent of fuel importers are now using the route.
More Ugandan fuel importers have embraced the Tanzanian route as a way of avoiding over reliance on the Kenyan route which is prone to disruptions, especially during elections.
Whereas the Tanzanian route is longer, hence making transportation costly compared to the Kenyan route, the government says at least 20 percent of fuel importers are now using the route.
“Currently, 20 percent of all our petroleum products are transported through Tanzania. In case of an emergency, we will be able to increase the capacity on the Tanzania route,” Mr Solomon Muyita, the spokesperson of the ministry of Energy, said in an interview on Tuesday, 09 August 2022.
The Tanzania government has agreed to reduce the road toll rates on trucks travelling to Uganda from $16 to $10.
“Currently, 20 percent of all our petroleum products are transported through Tanzania. In case of an emergency, we will be able to increase the capacity on the Tanzania route,”
Solomon Muyita, spokesperson of the ministry of Energy
Fuel prices in the country are already high and there was fear that this could escalate with the Kenya elections.
But so far, movement of fuel trucks between Uganda and Kenya has gone on uninterrupted even after Kenyans voted on Tuesday.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos), Uganda’s daily fuel consumption stands at five million litres. The vast bulk of this fuel is hauled in using oil tankers that ply the northern corridor route.
Besides the central corridor, the government has also moved to improve its fuel reservoirs.
Muyita said private and public fuel storages are full with fuel that can cover for 10 days. “We have 100 million litres of storage in the country and there are many trucks that are on the way to Uganda,” he said.
The Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business, Robinah Nabbanja recently said that government has the fuel reserves to run the country in case of a crisis.
Nabbanja made the assurance while responding to a matter of national importance raised by Hoima City Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Asinansi Nyakato during the sitting of the House on 04 August 2022.