High fuel prices begin to bite
PUBLIC transport fares to upcountry destinations have gone up, following an increase in fuel pump prices across the country.
By Violet Nabatanzi
PUBLIC transport fares to upcountry destinations have gone up, following an increase in fuel pump prices across the country.
The escalating fuel prices are partly a result of the unrest in oil-rich Arab states, particularly Libya, the increase in the cost of crude oil on the international market and the depreciation of the Uganda shilling.
A litre of petrol goes for sh3,500 and diesel at sh2,950 in Kampala. The rate is reported to be as high as sh3,600 at upcountry stations.
Significant increments in fares are recorded on taxis plying the Kampala to Mbarara, Kampala to Luweero, Kampala to Mityana, Kampala to Lyantonde and Kampala to Masaka routes.
Fares to Mbarara have risen from sh15,000 to sh17,000, while the Lyantonde travellers will have to fork out sh13,000, up from the previous sh10,000.
Operators pointed out that diesel consumption for the Mbarara route had increased from sh160,000 to sh200,000, while those plying the Lyantonde route spend sh150,000, up from sh100,000.
“People no longer want to travel upcountry because of the escalating transport fares,†Gideon Lwanga, a worker at the Mbarara taxi stage, said.
The Mityana fares have increased to sh5,000, up from sh4,000.
Suleiman Wamala, who operates at the stage, said their fuel consumption increased from sh110,000 to sh130,000.
Fares to Masaka shot up from sh8,000 to sh10,000 after the operators’ fuel bills rose from sh70,000 to sh100,000.
Travellers to Jinja will have to pay sh6,000 instead of the previous sh4,000.
Sources at the city bus parks, however, said the changes had not affected bus travellers.
“We will not increase transport fares until Easter holidays,†a source said.
Charles Kamya, the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (UTODA) secretary general, said the situation was beyond their control. He pleaded with passengers to bear with the situation, adding that when the fuel cost drops, transport fares would normalise.
“We are not happy with what is going on because the blame is put on UTODA.
“Passengers cannot be convinced that prices of fuel have increased,†Kamya explained yesterday.
PUBLIC transport fares to upcountry destinations have gone up, following an increase in fuel pump prices across the country.
The escalating fuel prices are partly a result of the unrest in oil-rich Arab states, particularly Libya, the increase in the cost of crude oil on the international market and the depreciation of the Uganda shilling.
A litre of petrol goes for sh3,500 and diesel at sh2,950 in Kampala. The rate is reported to be as high as sh3,600 at upcountry stations.
Significant increments in fares are recorded on taxis plying the Kampala to Mbarara, Kampala to Luweero, Kampala to Mityana, Kampala to Lyantonde and Kampala to Masaka routes.
Fares to Mbarara have risen from sh15,000 to sh17,000, while the Lyantonde travellers will have to fork out sh13,000, up from the previous sh10,000.
Operators pointed out that diesel consumption for the Mbarara route had increased from sh160,000 to sh200,000, while those plying the Lyantonde route spend sh150,000, up from sh100,000.
“People no longer want to travel upcountry because of the escalating transport fares,†Gideon Lwanga, a worker at the Mbarara taxi stage, said.
The Mityana fares have increased to sh5,000, up from sh4,000.
Suleiman Wamala, who operates at the stage, said their fuel consumption increased from sh110,000 to sh130,000.
Fares to Masaka shot up from sh8,000 to sh10,000 after the operators’ fuel bills rose from sh70,000 to sh100,000.
Travellers to Jinja will have to pay sh6,000 instead of the previous sh4,000.
Sources at the city bus parks, however, said the changes had not affected bus travellers.
“We will not increase transport fares until Easter holidays,†a source said.
Charles Kamya, the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (UTODA) secretary general, said the situation was beyond their control. He pleaded with passengers to bear with the situation, adding that when the fuel cost drops, transport fares would normalise.
“We are not happy with what is going on because the blame is put on UTODA.
“Passengers cannot be convinced that prices of fuel have increased,†Kamya explained yesterday.