The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, in conjunction with the Uganda National Oil Company Limited (UNOC), has assured the country of stable fuel supplies despite disruptions to global oil shipments caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
In a statement, the Ministry said the crisis has affected cargo movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route that carries about 20 percent of the world’s petroleum supply.
However, officials emphasized that Uganda’s current fuel reserves remain sufficient to meet short-term national demand.
As of March 27, the country held 81 million litres of petrol, 80 million litres of diesel, and 18.5 million litres of Jet A-1 fuel.
This equates to about 22 days of petrol cover, 23 days for diesel, and 30 days for aviation fuel, projected to last through the end of April.
The government said additional shipments are already lined up, with confirmed deliveries expected between late March and April via Kenya’s Mombasa port.
Supplementary supplies will also be routed through Tanzania’s ports of Tanga, Dar es Salaam and Mtwara to strengthen supply security.
Authorities estimate the incoming deliveries will include 195 million litres of petrol, 155 million litres of diesel, and 24 million litres of Jet A-1.
These volumes are expected to extend national fuel cover by 52 days for petrol, 44 days for diesel, and 39 days for Jet A-1.
“We therefore wish to reassure key business partners, including the transportation sector, aviation industry, the business community, and the general public that Uganda’s fuel supply remains secure, stable, and continuous despite the ongoing Middle East conflict,” the statement read.
The Ministry attributed the stability to diversified sourcing arrangements, noting that UNOC’s supply partners are able to access petroleum products from alternative global markets outside the conflict-affected region.
Even so, officials warned that global factors such as foreign exchange fluctuations and international oil prices could still influence pump prices domestically.
The government also dismissed claims circulating on social media about an impending fuel shortage, describing them as false and likely to trigger unnecessary panic and opportunistic pricing.
Authorities reiterated their commitment to safeguarding national energy security and ensuring uninterrupted supply of petroleum products across the country amid ongoing global market uncertainties.
