Mbale in fuel crisis
A fuel shortage hit Mbale town on Sunday, disrupting several businesses. Hundreds of vehicles were left abandoned on roads, as drivers struggled to look for scarce petrol or diesel.
By Nasur Wambedde and Geoffrey Omagor
A fuel shortage hit Mbale town on Sunday, disrupting several businesses. Hundreds of vehicles were left abandoned on roads, as drivers struggled to look for scarce petrol or diesel.
The situation also severely affected the commuter transport services in and around Mbale town.
A few passenger vehicles that remained on the roads, immediately hiked transport fares and this left many people stranded.
“We have no option but to raise the transport fares, since we are also finding it hard to access fuel at a fair price,†said Rashid a taxi driver.
At Mbale taxi park, business almost came to a stand-still, because there were few taxis operating, despite the large number of commuters.
“I was here by 6.00am but I have failed to get a taxi to Busia,†Nambozo, who was with her three children said.
By 8.30am most fuel stations in and around town had ran out of fuel. Only Caltex Petrol station on Republic Street still had a little in the pumps, but there was commotion as frustrated drivers struggled for it.
However, on the black market, petrol was available at sh3000 a litre. This is more than double the normal retail price of about sh1530.
It was not clear whether the fuel on the black market was smuggled into Uganda.
But some of these fuel dealers when contacted by The New Vision said they stocked up after predicting a potential supply crisis due to the presidential elections in Kenya.
Official dealers at service stations said, they last imported fuel at the beginning of this month.
A fuel shortage hit Mbale town on Sunday, disrupting several businesses. Hundreds of vehicles were left abandoned on roads, as drivers struggled to look for scarce petrol or diesel.
The situation also severely affected the commuter transport services in and around Mbale town.
A few passenger vehicles that remained on the roads, immediately hiked transport fares and this left many people stranded.
“We have no option but to raise the transport fares, since we are also finding it hard to access fuel at a fair price,†said Rashid a taxi driver.
At Mbale taxi park, business almost came to a stand-still, because there were few taxis operating, despite the large number of commuters.
“I was here by 6.00am but I have failed to get a taxi to Busia,†Nambozo, who was with her three children said.
By 8.30am most fuel stations in and around town had ran out of fuel. Only Caltex Petrol station on Republic Street still had a little in the pumps, but there was commotion as frustrated drivers struggled for it.
However, on the black market, petrol was available at sh3000 a litre. This is more than double the normal retail price of about sh1530.
It was not clear whether the fuel on the black market was smuggled into Uganda.
But some of these fuel dealers when contacted by The New Vision said they stocked up after predicting a potential supply crisis due to the presidential elections in Kenya.
Official dealers at service stations said, they last imported fuel at the beginning of this month.