KAMPALA – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has confirmed that the country’s supply of petroleum products remains stable and secure, despite ongoing global instability affecting international oil markets.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This was revealed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Eng. Irene Bateebe, while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Friday, May 22nd, 2026, on the current fuel markets in Uganda.
Eng. Irene Bateebe explained that recent unrest in the Middle East, especially problems linked to the Strait of Hormuz, has disrupted global oil supply chains, leading to higher fuel prices as well as increased freight and insurance costs.
She noted that East African countries, including Uganda, have been affected because they rely on petroleum imports from the Arabian Gulf region, but she quickly emphasized that Uganda still has enough fuel in stock.
“Problems in the Middle East, especially near the Strait of Hormuz, have disturbed global oil supplies. This has caused fuel prices, freight costs, and insurance costs to go up. Uganda has been affected because we buy our petroleum from the Arabian Gulf region,” said Eng. Irene Bateebe.
She stated that UNOC is working closely with international partners like Vitol to find new fuel supplies from West Africa, Europe, India, and the Americas, ensuring that fuel keeps reaching the country without interruption.
Eng. Irene Bateebe added that the recent rise in pump prices is largely due to global supply limits, higher import costs, changes in exchange rates, and strong regional demand.
She observed that because Uganda’s fuel prices are lower than in neighboring countries, cross-border demand temporarily strained supplies in some border areas, but stability has since been restored.
The government is strengthening petroleum infrastructure by upgrading the Jinja Storage Terminal from 30 million to 40 million litres, while the Mahathi Infra Terminal on Lake Victoria already holds 70 million litres.
The new Kampala Storage Terminal in Mpigi District is also in the works, with a capacity of 320 million litres, and it will be linked to the Hoima refinery pipeline network.
The Permanent Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to long-term energy security and a stable fuel supply, stating that strategic investments in infrastructure, refining, storage, and exploration are underway.
She stated that this positions Uganda for lasting energy resilience, aimed at maximizing national benefits from the country’s petroleum resources, and with a bright future ahead, Uganda is confidently on the right path.
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