Long queues at pump stations in Kenya
Pump fuel prices have increased in Busia district resulting from the scarcity in neighbouring Kenya. A liter of petrol has increased from Shillings 5,000 to between Shillings 5,200 and 6,000 at different pump stations.
Those selling petrol in bottles have increased the price from Shillings 4,800 to between Shillings 5200 to 5,700. The price of diesel has also increased to Shillings 4800 from Shillings 4480. David Kisaale, a pump attendant at Burar pump fuel station in Busia town, says that they have hiked the fuel prices due to high demand.
He explains that the number of drivers and motorcycle riders in need of fuel has doubled in the last three days starting from Sunday last week. Kisaale attributed the hike in fuel prices to the scarcity in neighbouring Kenya.
Kiiza Hirya, a motorcycle rider in Busia town, says that the increased fuel price has pushed most of his colleagues out of the Boda-boda business because of making losses. He explains that most of the passengers are not willing to pay extra charges.
Umar Wejuli, another motorcycle rider, says that he spent almost three hours in a queue on Monday evening waiting to get fuel at Harb pump station after both Shell and Total ran out of fuel. He expressed fears that the country to face a fuel crisis like what is happening in neighbouring Kenya.
Umar Mutwalib, a tax operator in Busia town, says that the persistent hike in fuel prices has left them at a loss because they spend a lot on buying fuel compared to the money they collect from passengers.
Gabriel Odhiambo, a Kenyan national, says that all the Pump fuel stations in Busia county don’t have fuel, which has prompted them to cross to Uganda to buy fuel. Odhiambo says that the fuel scarcity in Kenya has forced the few pump station with some stock to hike the price from between Kshs 130 (UGX 4,030) to Kshs 170 (UGX 5,100).
Christopher Mulinga, a Kenyan national told URN that he drove almost 70kilometers from Bungoma to Busia Uganda to buy fuel. He, however, said that he was shocked by the fuel price increase on the Ugandan side.
-URN
