Energy Minister Warns Fuel Dealers Against Arbitrary Price Hikes

Uganda’s Minister of Energy, Ruth Nankabirwa, has issued a strong warning to fuel dealers against hiking pump prices arbitrarily. Speaking while accepting her role as Third Abeto Peace Club Goodwill Ambassador, she stressed that the government fully controls fuel importation and pricing benchmarks through the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC).

All oil marketing companies procure fuel from UNOC, which absorbs global logistical and inflationary pressures, eliminating excuses for unjustified increases. “We know the actual import costs,” Nankabirwa said, adding that as regulator and licensee, she expects prices to reflect government supply costs.

Her comments address public concerns over fuel price swings amid global crises. While operating in a liberalized economy without fixed prices, the minister affirmed enforcement mechanisms for non-compliant firms, preferring cooperation over sanctions.

Uganda’s shift to a government-to-business (G2B) model last year, with supplier Vitol sourcing from diverse global reserves, has insulated the country from geopolitical disruptions like Middle East conflicts, ensuring price stability.

During the event, the Abeto Peace Club also honored nine Permanent Secretaries with peace awards, including those from Energy, Tourism, ICT, and other ministries. The club, founded in 1996 post-Rwandan genocide at the urging of the late Queen of England, promotes peace-building.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)