Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | Parliament has approved the Petroleum Supplies Amendment Bill 2023, granting the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) the authority to exclusively import all petroleum products into Uganda, ending reliance on the Kenyan government. Pending presidential assent, the move aims to enhance supply security, reduce pump prices, and generate additional revenue for UNOC to support infrastructure development, particularly in the oil sector.
Emmanuel Otiam Otala, chairperson of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, highlighted that the bill empowers UNOC to be the sole importer and supplier of petroleum products to licensed oil marketing companies in Uganda, ensuring the security of petroleum product supply.
The Committee’s report noted that the current supply chain involves three layers of middlemen, resulting in additional markups on Uganda’s fuel, supply insecurity, and the inability to negotiate directly for petroleum prices. The bill addresses these issues by allowing UNOC to source petroleum products exclusively from Vitol, a global energy and commodities giant.
Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa emphasized that the bill enables the government to ensure a steady supply of petroleum products and diversify supply routes. The UNOC-Vitol partnership includes a five-year contract, with Vitol Bahrain E.C. financing the business and committing to additional capacity construction in partnership with UNOC.
MP Alioni Yorke Odria supported the bill, emphasizing the need to save Ugandans from fuel cartels that influence fuel pricing.
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