A growing fuel crisis has gripped Tororo, with many petrol stations running dry, long queues forming at the few operational pumps, and prices rising sharply from Shs5,000 to Shs5,800 per litre.
Across the district, several filling stations have gone completely dry, while others remain barely operational, leaving motorists, boda boda riders, and other consumers scrambling for limited supplies.
The shortage has hit petrol hardest, the most widely used fuel product in the area. Major stations such as TotalEnergies and Shell were partially closed, leaving smaller dealers like Shire to temporarily dominate the limited available supply.
From Malaba border to Tororo town, the few operational pumps have pushed prices upwards, with some outlets selling fuel at as high as Shs5,800 per litre, up from the previous average of Shs5,000.
Boda boda riders say the surge has severely affected their earnings, with many struggling to sustain daily operations.
“Look at the price. What can two thousand shillings do for you if you do not have enough money? This is total madness,” said Charles Odero, Chairperson of the Boda Boda Association in Malaba Town Council.
Residents in the border district also point to increased cross-border demand as a contributing factor. Many Kenyans are reportedly crossing into Uganda to purchase fuel, attracted by relatively lower prices compared to Kenya.
“Fuel prices in Kenya are higher than in Uganda, so those at the border have taken advantage by crossing to the Ugandan side to buy fuel,” said Julius Odiye, Speaker of Malaba Town Council.
However, district security officials argue that some station operators may be worsening the situation by deliberately withholding stock in anticipation of higher profits.
“Some petrol station owners are doing this deliberately to benefit from the crisis, but this is not fair. Let them follow government guidelines and sell fuel at the normal price,” said Albert Amula, Deputy RDC of Tororo.
Despite the rising prices and shortages, authorities maintain that the situation remains under control and insist there is no immediate cause for alarm.
“Government recently assured Ugandans, and continues to assure them, that the fuel still available in the country can serve us. So there is no cause for alarm,” Amula added.
Even so, residents are calling for stronger government intervention, including improved fuel reserve management and tighter regulation of distribution channels, to prevent further shocks to the local economy.
