President Yoweri Museveni has hailed his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, for supporting Uganda’s economic progress through cooperation in the petroleum sector, saying the partnership has helped the country cut fuel costs and save substantial amounts of money.
Museveni said Kenya’s decision to allow Uganda to pump oil through its pipeline, together with Uganda’s 20.15 per cent share in the sector, has strengthened economic cooperation between the two countries and reduced the influence of middlemen who, he said, previously exploited Uganda during fuel imports.
He said the arrangement had resulted in significant reductions in the prices Uganda pays for petroleum products.
According to Museveni, the price of diesel fell from USD 118 to USD 83 per litre, while petrol dropped from USD 97.50 to USD 61.50 per litre. Aviation fuel, he said, declined from USD 114.25 to USD 79.25 per litre.
Museveni said the savings had enabled Uganda to retain substantial funds that would otherwise have been lost through costly fuel-importation arrangements.
The President also credited Kenyan Senator Cyrus Jirongo with drawing his attention to the opportunity around 2019. He said he immediately tasked the then Minister for Energy, Irene Muloni, to pursue the matter.
According to Museveni, the process continued until 2023, when the new Energy Minister linked Uganda with Vitol, a global energy company involved in refining and trading petroleum products in different parts of the world.
He said Vitol subsequently accepted Uganda as a bulk supplier, further helping the country reduce the cost of importing petroleum products.
Museveni made the remarks while responding to thanksgiving messages from Ugandans, whom he referred to as the “Bazukulu”, following his 82nd birthday celebrations on September 15, 2026.
He urged citizens across the East African Community to recognise the economic benefits of regional integration, particularly the opportunities created through cooperation and shared infrastructure.
However, Museveni expressed displeasure with some Kenyan media personalities whom he accused of putting “pilipili”, or red pepper, into his message during the laying of the foundation stone for a 320-million-litre oil storage facility at Buyala in Wakiso District last week.
The President said the development of shared petroleum infrastructure and stronger regional cooperation should be viewed in the context of the wider economic benefits that integration can bring to countries within the East African Community.
By Our Reporter