By Alice Kobusinge
Stephen Businge, a taxi driver along Fort Portal-Kasese route said that the increased price of fuel has hindered their work where passengers refuse to give them the money they ask for.
He says, that previously from Fort Portal to Kibiito was 3000 shillings but currently 5000 Shs. He however says they find it had to get that money from passengers.
Increase in other items as well
Businge, says that it is not only the price of fuel that has increased, but even the prices of tyres have . A tyre of small cars was at 150000 Shs and currently is at 180000 Shs while a tyre for a minibus was at 170000 Shs and currently at 250000 shillings. He asked government to intervene.
Clovice Mwesige Makemba, the vice chairperson Fort Portal -Bundibugyo stage, says that they were previously using fuel equivalent to 80000Shs going to Bundibugyo and coming back to Fort Portal but currently they are using about140000 Shs.
Mwesige says that previously from Fort Portal to Bundibugyo 8000 Shs was enough as transport, but now to get 10000 from passengers they fight hard. He says that they are going to organize a meeting for all drivers of Fort Portal – Bundibigyo to set a standard price.
Patrick Mugisa , the defense Fort Portal- Kasese stage says that some cars have been parked by owners due to increased prices of fuel rendering drivers jobless.
Prices as of now
By press time, Rubis petrol station had no fuel, at shell petrol station a liter of petrol was at 5350 Shs, at Total petrol station a liter of petrol was at 5380 shillings diesel at 5370 while at Demo petrol station a liter of petrol was at 5250 while diesel 4950.
However, Beatrice Kababito, the manager of Total petrol station says that increased prices of fuel are because of increased tax on fuel by the government.
She adds, that currently there is a deduction on customers being received, due to increased price of fuels.
However, we tried to get a comment from our area Members of Parliament on the increased price of fuel but they did not pick our phone calls
