Uganda's national oil company just kicked fuel importing into high gear, delivering a whopping 1.9 billion liters of fuel since last July. Aron Bukenya from UNOC broke down the numbers during a chat with local editors: nearly 992 million liters of petrol across 12 vessels, about 805 million liters of diesel from 8 vessels, and just over 104 million liters of jet fuel from 7 shipments.
The game-changer happened when Uganda decided to cut out middlemen, specifically Kenyan traders, by making UNOC the country's exclusive fuel importer. Before this move, Uganda had zero control over its fuel supply. Kenyan and Tanzanian companies called the shots, deciding whether to sell fuel to Uganda or keep it for themselves.
UNOC has been smart about sourcing, working directly with major global refineries like Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi's national oil company. They've partnered with Vitol, a massive global energy trading giant, to streamline imports. Their strategy means any licensed Ugandan oil company can now buy fuel directly from UNOC, bypassing the old complicated import system.
The payoff? More stable fuel prices that track global market rates. The Uganda National Bureau of Statistics has already noticed pump prices sliding downward. Petrol and diesel are hovering just under 5,000 shillings, with UNOC's pricing strategy keeping costs predictable. Their ultimate goal remains to build a local oil refinery to reduce import dependency further and stabilize the national fuel market.
The game-changer happened when Uganda decided to cut out middlemen, specifically Kenyan traders, by making UNOC the country's exclusive fuel importer. Before this move, Uganda had zero control over its fuel supply. Kenyan and Tanzanian companies called the shots, deciding whether to sell fuel to Uganda or keep it for themselves.
UNOC has been smart about sourcing, working directly with major global refineries like Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi's national oil company. They've partnered with Vitol, a massive global energy trading giant, to streamline imports. Their strategy means any licensed Ugandan oil company can now buy fuel directly from UNOC, bypassing the old complicated import system.
The payoff? More stable fuel prices that track global market rates. The Uganda National Bureau of Statistics has already noticed pump prices sliding downward. Petrol and diesel are hovering just under 5,000 shillings, with UNOC's pricing strategy keeping costs predictable. Their ultimate goal remains to build a local oil refinery to reduce import dependency further and stabilize the national fuel market.
