Uganda National Oil Company explains increased pump prices
The reduced supply has consequently led to an increase in retail pump prices, especially of Petrol.
The current average price of petrol in Kampala, Uganda, is around sh5,000 per litre. This price is up from sh4,700 in December 2024.
By Admin .
Journalists @New Vision
KAMPALA - The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) has issued a public statement confirming that the country was experiencing " temporary disruptions" in the supply of petroleum products.
The reduced supply has consequently led to an increase in retail pump prices, especially of Petrol.
The current average price of petrol in Kampala, Uganda, is around sh5,000 per litre. This price is up from sh4,700 in December 2024.
A media handout from UNOC states that this development has largely been due to logistical challenges in product deliveries through the Kenyan route within May 2025.
The statement explains that "to safeguard national supply, UNOC undertook contingency measures, including the importation of about 35 million litres of petroleum products through the Tanzanian route.
While this ensured continued product flow and availability, the longer transit distance and associated transportation costs have had a marginal impact on pump prices."
UNOC's major mandate is to manage the Government's commercial interests in the petroleum sector.
The institution's statement assured the public that by Monday, June 2nd, over 90 million litres of petroleum products will be available within the Kenya Pipeline system allocated to Ugandan Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), of which 53 million litres is petrol currently being loaded by the OMCs for delivery to Uganda.
There is hope that by the weekend (June 6th to 8th) an additional 200 million litres of product, comprising petrol, diesel, and Jet A-1, will be received into the Kenya Pipeline system and made accessible to OMCs.
UNOC assured the public that the steady incoming supply, coupled with a recent drop in global Platts prices and a favourable exchange rate, is expected to restore supply consistency across the country and stabilise the retail pump prices in the coming days.
UNOC's first imports of petroleum products were marked by the arrival of two vessels at Mombasa Port in Kenya: MT Navig8 Martinez on July 3, 2024, carrying 58,000 metric tonnes of petrol (PMS) and MT Sinbad on July 4, 2024, with 80,000 metric tonnes of diesel (AGO).
These shipments were significant because they marked the beginning of UNOC's mandate as the sole importer of petroleum products in Uganda, following the passage of the Petroleum Supply (Amendment) Act 2023.