The Government Assurance Committee of Parliament has summoned the minister of Energy, Ruth Nankabirwa, and his Finance counterpart, Matia Kasaija, to answer questions related to the delayed operationalisation of the government fuel reservoirs.
This comes after the duo failed to show up to a scheduled committee meeting that sought answers on the government's strategy to curb the escalating fuel prices.
The committee led by the vice-chairperson, Joseph Ssewungu had called the meeting to find out steps being taken to deal with the fuel crisis.
However, only technical officers from the ministry of Energy appeared for the meeting while no officer from Finance appeared forcing the committee chairperson to adjourn the meeting.
According to Ssewungu, the ministers claimed that they had been summoned to the State House for a meeting.
He said that the ministers should appear before the committee on July 26, 2022 with statistics of fuel increase from March up to the day they appear.
"We want both of them explain who is failing when it comes to the oil reserves. UNOC has written several letters to the Ministry of Finance to support the fuel reserves but they have not responded,” he said.
Ssewungu said the skyrocketing fuel prices are alarming.
"Last week, we left this place when fuel was at Shs 6,300; today it is Shs 6,900. Fuel is rising according to the month of the year and yet one official said fuel was stable and had not gotten out of hand," he said.
Meanwhile, MPs have warned that if the government does not address the fuel crisis, Uganda is in danger.
"We are heading for a very serious economic recession. Fuel is the engine of economic development of any nation; if the ministers are not serious, we are in danger," Tom Alero Aza, the Moyo West MP said.
