By Leonard Kamugisha Akida and Priscialla Owomugisha,
NATIONAL:
As the nation is feeling the pinch in the skyrocketing prices of fuel across the country, popular opposition political party, Forum for Democratic Change has tasked governmemt to address the matter with immediate effect.
Over the weekend, fuel prices had gone up to an all – time high of between UShs 10,000 and UShs 15,000/ per liter of petrol while diesel prices went as high as UShs 8,000 from UShs 4,590 per liter in Hoima. In some parts of the country like Kampala, Kanungu, there was scarcity of fuel at most fuel stations thus increasing prices at an abnormal cost.
The hiccup was largely attributed to the ongoing strike by fuel truck drivers at Malaba and Busia, Ugandan borders with Kenya over high costs of covid-19 testing estimated at $65 and delays in the release of test results.
Speaking to journalists on Monday at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi Kampala, Harold Kaijja, the Deputy Secretary General of the party said government has not done anything to address the crisis caused by rising fuel prices in the country.
“Fuel is the driver of the economy. All commodities we buy rely on fuel therefore, the changes in fuel prices affects the prices of other sectors of the economy due to high transport fares,” he said
The FDC suggests that the country should set up its own oil reserves and reduce on the taxes levied on fuel to help in the supply of fuel during times of the crisis.
“As the country, we must be having more reserves so as in times like these we are using the reserved oil. Government should also reduce on the taxes charged on each liter of fuel to allow large supplies.” FDC suggested
“One of the commodities that is highly taxed in this country is fuel. On every liter of fuel as per the last budget, government was picking UShs 1,600 per liter. It is the reason why you are seeing that one of the things that is causing inflation in this country is fuel,” FDC decries the hoard in fuel prices.
Government however noted that the changes in fuel prices were due to the traffic at the Malaba and Busia border points following a directive by the ministry of health to all truck drivers and passengers to undergo a mandatory covid-19 test before accessing the country.
Over 4,500 trucks stall at Malaba and Busia borders as drivers were being to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing by the ministry of health Uganda unlike in the previous days where they would only present negative COVID-19 from Kenya. This caused long queues at the border points thus limited supplies of fuel in Uganda.
But FDC says that there is a big official, (Mafia as they are currently referred to) at the ministry of health who is enforcing this having initiated the same at Entebbe Airport.
“We got the information that somebody big in the ministry of health is the owner of that business! The government of Mr. Museveni operates like ‘Bayilibi’ (capitalists),” FDC said.
In addition, FDC has appealed Ugandans to task government to address the issue of fuel for a lasting solution.
Government through the ministry of energy development has however assured the public that the fuel prices will soon return to normal after clearing the long queues of trucks at the Kenya-Uganda border points of Malaba and Busia.
“Uganda’s oil marketing companies have their trucks in the traffic between the Kenya loading points and the borders and once cleared in a few days, supply and prices will return to normal and there is no need for the public to panic,” the energy ministry said in a statement.
By publication time, Parrots UG had learned that the ministry of health has suspended mandatory testing of truck drivers and passengers at the Malaba and Busia land borders.
“In reference to the later dated 6th January, 2022, which authorized the use of antigen RDT platform as temporary measure of decongesting the Malaba and Busia borders, we have noted that the congestion has since persisted for more than 10 days,” MoH said
“The purpose of this communication is to inform you of this temporary waiver and request you to effect this immediately starting today the 15th January, 2022. The temporary waiver will however, be reviewed in the next Weeks’s East Africa Ministerial meeting.” read a January 15, statement by Dr. Charles Olaro for Director General Health Services at the ministry.
