Lango Transporters Hike Kampala Fares Following Global Fuel Price Surge

Travelers and business owners in the Lango sub-region are facing mounting financial pressure after transport companies announced a steep increase in bus fares to Kampala. Effective November, commuters on various routes must dig deeper into their pockets following the adjustment driven by soaring fuel costs.

According to the United Bus Owners Association, transport costs on routes heading to Kampala have risen by at least Shs 10,000. Passengers traveling on executive buses from Apac District to the capital will now pay Shs 60,000, up from Shs 50,000, while ordinary buses have increased their fares to Shs 50,000 from the previous Shs 40,000.

Similarly, commuters journeying from Lira City to Kampala will now pay Shs 40,000 compared to Shs 30,000 previously. Travelers departing from Aduku Town Council in Kwania District will face a new rate of Shs 45,000, up from Shs 35,000.

Mr. Geoffrey Anok, the executive director of Comfort Travellers Bus Company, explained that the adjustments are necessary to keep transport businesses afloat amidst severe economic pressures. He noted that maintenance expenses have nearly doubled, while fuel costs have surged to the point where the amount previously required for a round trip now barely covers a single journey.

The fare hikes have generated widespread anxiety, particularly among small-scale traders who rely heavily on regular travel to transport goods between regional markets and Kampala. Produce dealers and second-hand clothes merchants warn that the rising transport overheads will inevitably force them to increase commodity prices, potentially worsening the cost of living for final consumers.

Citizens are now calling upon the government to intervene and regulate fuel prices, noting that the spike in diesel costs—which have climbed significantly at pump stations across the country—is heavily burdening low-income earners, patients traveling for medical treatment, and the broader business community.

Read more details in the Daily Monitor.