By VOM News Team
After nearly three weeks of sky rocketing prices for fuel countrywide, including Kisoro district, fuel pumps across the district have today run dry.
This was confirmed by Kindly petrol station owner Boniface Harera who owns more than 5 outlets in the entire district.
Harera, says he had hoped that the fuel supply would last till the weekend however that has not been possible.
According to Harera, his stock of up to 20,000 liters a month is usually adequate however this phenomena is far beyond him.
Similar sentiments have been shared by other fuel suppliers and distributors in the district including Total, Shell, Nyamagana, Stabex and Kyamps Fuel that have no more petrol to offer to customers.
Harera says at the time when fuel run dry, his prices for petrol stood at 5,500 per liter.
“I have been told some fuel outlets in Kampala have some fuel reserves so am going to send for fuel. I will have to buy at 5,500 per liter which means I will rise the liter in Kisoro to 6000 Ugandan shillings, Harera explained.
Smaller fuel pumps operating in villages across the district are said to be pumping fuel at 7000 shillings per liter, however it is only a matter of time, till they also run dry.
The fuel crisis in Kisoro has left many motorists worried about how they are going to conduct business.
The chairperson of Kisoro United Boda Boda Association (KUBO) Robert Kalangala says his members will have no choice but to increase fares for transporting people and their goods.
Kalangala says town service within Kisoro Municipality has always been between 1000 and 2000 Ugandan shillings however all riders will have to increase prices in order to survive the unfavorable situation.
Rates seen by Voice of Muhabura include Kisoro Municipality to Kisoro hospital 1000 (former) 3000 (current), Kisoro Municipality to Mutolere hospital 2000 (former) 4000 current, Kisoro Municipality to Rubuguri 10,000 (former) 15,000 to 20,000 (current price), Kisoro Municipality to Nyanamo 15,000 (former) 30,000 current, Kisoro Municipality to Nyarusiza 5000 (former) 10,000 current.
Major Factory in Nyakabande hard-hit.
The management of Birunga Diary Factory, located in Nyakabande village, Gasiza parish, Kisoro district took a decision almost two years ago to rely on generator power to run its production of milk.
The privately owned factory that runs a mega generator during production abandoned electricity from UMEME due to its irregular power supply that often resulted in interrupted production leading to loss of milk as well as serious mechanical faults, that were costly to fix.
Chief Engineer at the plant, Paul Kitindi says the factory has been heavily affected by the soaring fuel prices.
Kitindi admits that production at Birunga was significantly reduced after the border closure between Uganda and Rwanda more than 2 years ago.
“More than 60% of our products ended up in Rwanda and so when the borders were closed we had to scale down on production. It is a difficult period for the factory and the fuel scarity is not helping our case, Kitindi explained.
Birunga diaries, on a good day used to process between 15,000 liters to 20,000 liters of Highland fresh milk per day, packed in sachets of 500ml.
No Safety Net for Kisoro Residents.
Kisoro district Chief Administrative officer Ismail Onzu Musa says the district is currently handicapped to carry out any serious road rehabilitation because of the fuel scarcity.
The comments come following three days of heavy rainfall that have left major tourism roads including Mgahinga road, Kabahunde- Mulindi near river Ruhezamyenda and Mucha- Kasharara road completely inaccessible.
“We are aware the mandate falls to Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) who are not ignorant of the situation however we often try our best to ensure the roads are passable but that is now not going to be possible”, Onzu said
Kisoro district LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana, who is in the capital, Kampala meeting with Members of Parliament from Kisoro district, says the district leadership has no way of intervening in the matter because it is largely, a private sector led business.
Bizimana said Government needs to resolve the issue in a timely manner before people lose their patience and this escalates into an even bigger crisis.
He called on residents to remain calm as Government paves a way towards a lasting solution.
Bukimbiri County Member Of Parliament Eddie Kwizera Wa Gahungu says, his meeting with the Minister of Energy should yield some positive responses for the people of Kisoro district.
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