Parliament has directed the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development to explain the government’s plans on fuel skyrocketing prices and the country’s preparedness ahead of the Kenyan elections.

This was after MP Francis Tumwijukye demanded an explanation on whether the Government had addressed the Parliament’s recommendations on fuel prices.

“Can the minister responsible for Energy inform the House on what steps the Government has undertaken to implement the resolutions of Parliament and how she plans to deal with the current skyrocketing prices of fuel?

But Speaker of Parliament Anita Among warned members against ‘bringing things in the House’ without first carrying out research.

She argued that the fuel price crisis in the country has been affected by external factors and it’s not affecting Uganda alone.

“The issue should be how ready are we in terms of our reserves now that Kenya is going for election. The last report that was brought here indicated that we had nothing in the reserves. What plans do we have as a country? and what plans do we have to ensure that we regulate the fuel prices?” she said.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja attributed the problems of high prices to external factors caused by the Ukraine-Russia war.

She however said the Government is planning to have an alternative route for imported fuel. “We need to be frugal because all these price issues are being caused by external factors. However, I will ask the minister to prepare a comprehensive statement so that members are in the know,” she said.

Currently, motorists have continued to grapple with persistent high fuel prices, forcing some to park their cars as shown by reduced jams in the city

Fuel filling stations across the country have increased their prices, with a liter crossing the Shs6,000 mark. This is an average increase of Shs1,400 from the price before the crisis hit the country at the close of 2021.