By Everest Mukiibi
The spokesperson of the ruling National Resistance Movement in Wakiso district Muwanga Lutaaya says he supports the decision of the President ,General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to buy oil directly from refineries in Europe, to help reduce fuel prices here at home.
President Museveni recently told the nation that he had discovered that the increase in oil prices in the country is due to intermediaries who buy it at low prices through Kenya and Tanzania but sell it to Ugandans at very high prices with an aim of accumulating wealth for themselves.
The fountain of honor called them crooks and enemies of Uganda, but said he has started plans to negotiate with the rich owners of overseas oil refineries, to import oil here directly through Kenya and Tanzania, then the prices will be reduced because they will have driven out brokers.
This also comes as parliament passed the Petroleum Supply Amendment Bill 2023, which if signed by President Museveni, will give the Uganda national oil company (UNOC) exclusive control over the import and sale of petroleum.
Speaking to our reporter in Kampala, early this week, Wakiso district NRM spokesperson Muwanga Lutaaya said the president’s decision was right because Ugandans have been crying , and some have sold off their vehicles as a result of high fuel prices .
Muwanga praised President Museveni for making such a decision because the hourly fluctuating oil prices have caused the prices of every commodity to rise while people are extremely poor.
“Oil prices have been causing other items to go up, and the president has helped us a lot, president then you are on the right track,” Muwanga said.
Muwanga told us that this will help the government to avoid spending too much money,which it has been investing in brokers hence saving taxpayer’s money.
He also assured citizens and traders that this will not affect trade in East African countries as most people think because the intermediaries who have been delivering fuel here are Kenyans and in their country oil is cheaper thus asking President Museveni to continue with this initiative.
Muwanga also acknowledged that he supports the president’s development plans, especially the parish development model and commended the government for doing it’s best to ensure that PDM funds reach the people of Kampala. He now urged the people of Kampala and Wakiso who have not yet adopted the scheme to find it’s coordinators for registration and be educated to ensure that they get funds for self-development so that they can
