By Faith Kwagala
KAMPALA– The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ms. Ruth Nankabirwa, has issued a stern warning to fuel dealers against arbitrary price hikes, asserting that the government now maintains full control over fuel importation and pricing benchmarks.Speaking during her installation as the Third Abeto Peace Club Goodwill Ambassador, Ms. Nankabirwa emphasized that through the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), the state is effectively absorbing logistical and inflationary pressures that previously drove up pump prices. She noted that under the recently adopted government-to-business (G2B) model, the primary supplier, Vitol, sources fuel from diverse global reserves. This strategy insulates Uganda from supply disruptions caused by ongoing conflicts, including the war in the Middle East.”I am your regulator and your licensee,” the Minister cautioned marketing companies. “The prices should reflect what I sell to them.” While acknowledging that Uganda operates in a liberalized economy, she stressed that the government is fully aware of actual import costs and will not tolerate the exploitation of consumers.The remarks come as a relief to a public concerned by global fluctuations. With a ceasefire in the Middle East sparking optimism, the Ministry maintains that current enforcement mechanisms prioritize cooperation to ensure price predictability and national energy security.