EASTERN PROVINCE

NYAGATARE — Ugandans have begun to flock Nyagatare in search of petrol due to the escalating fuel shortage in their country, coupled with increasing pump prices.

They reportedly hail from the western Ugandan districts of Ntungamo and Mbarara neighboring Nyagate.

Long queues of 20-liter Jeri-cans built up at the soul petrol station in Nyagatare.

Ugandan press reported scarcity of fuel at various petrol stations yesterday, in their capital Kampala and upcountry places as the price of a liter of petrol, raised to Ugandan shs between 4000-5000 from 2460 in less than a day.

"In the western part of Uganda fuel scarcity has worsened compelling us to rush to Nyagatare since they seem to have stocked much,” Stephen Kamugundu, one of the Ugandans who waited to be served told our reporter yesterday.

 The fuel scarcity has been attributed to the post-election violence in Kenya which has prompted business speculators to hoard the available fuel.

The violence has affected movement of fuel to landlocked Uganda, which is also the main route for fuel coming to Rwanda.

Meanwhile, pump prices in Nyagatare raised prompting fear among the business community as suppliers warned of further price hikes.

According Richard Mbaraga, an employee at source oil Nyagatare station, fuel shortages in the country are also escalating which have prompted pump prices to increase.

Prices of petrol were raised  from Frw647-Frw695 while diesel jumped from Frw635-Frw687.

During the weekend, all pump stations dried-up; leaving business on black market where dealers charged between Frw800-Frw1000 per liter of petrol, prompting Motorists to hike fare.

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