By Mugweri Umar
At first, the queues were not so serious , just a few extra cars at petrol stations and a bit more waiting than usual. But as days passed, the lines have become longer, people are becoming more frustrated, and across Uganda, a big fuel problem has exposed how weak our fuel system really is.
From the busy roads of Kampala to towns in the villages, many drivers have been left stuck as petrol stations run out of fuel. Some people have driven long distances only to find there is no fuel.
Others have parked their cars because they cannot afford the high prices, or because there is simply no fuel to buy. Looking for petrol or diesel has now become a daily struggle for many Ugandans.
The problem has not stopped at fuel stations. Transport fares have started rising. Small businesses are also suffering because their costs have increased. In some places, people are buying and keeping fuel in large amounts to sell later at higher prices, which makes the shortage even worse, especially for poor communities. What started as a small supply problem has now become a big economic challenge.
Government leaders have tried to calm people, saying there is enough fuel and more is coming. But for someone who has waited in line for hours or is paying very high transport costs, these words do not help much. This difference between what leaders say and what people are experiencing has made many Ugandans more frustrated.
All this is happening because we depend much on fuel from other countries. When there are problems in the world oil market, Uganda is affected immediately. When there are delays or transport problems from the port of Mombasa in Kenya, fuel cannot reach the country in time. Even when fuel is available in the country, poor distribution means it does not reach all areas properly.
This crisis should be a lesson for the country. Uganda cannot continue to suffer like this every time there is a problem in the global fuel market. The country needs to fast track its own fuel refining, improve fuel storage, and make sure fuel distribution works well across all regions.
If nothing is done, these long queues will come back again. And each time they return, the damage to the economy and to people’s lives will become even worse.
The Writer is a Ugandan Businessman and Member of the Muslim Writers Guild of Uganda
