By Alice
The ongoing fuel crisis in Uganda has forced several taxi operators in Fort Portal City out of work, as rising fuel costs and limited supply disrupt transport services.
According to Kiiza Sulaiman Yasin, the Chairperson of the Fort Portal Taxi Operators Union, many drivers have been laid off in the past week after vehicle owners withdrew their taxis from operation to avoid mounting losses.
Kiiza revealed that fuel stations across the city have begun rationing fuel, with motorists restricted to purchases ranging between UGX 20,000 and UGX 100,000 per visit. This, he said, has made it difficult for taxi operators to sustain their daily operations, as they are forced to make multiple stops to secure enough fuel.
Transport fares maintained
Despite the challenges, taxi operators have agreed to maintain current transport fares to avoid overburdening passengers. Fares on major routes remain unchanged, with Fort Portal–Kampala still at UGX 35,000 and Fort Portal–Kyenjojo at UGX 5,000.
A spot check by a Jubilee Radio reporter at several fuel stations in Fort Portal revealed that petrol prices remain high, with a litre selling at UGX 5,499 at Rubis, UGX 5,450 at Shell, and UGX 5,390 at Total.
Kiiza has appealed to the government to urgently intervene by reducing fuel taxes and stabilizing supply to protect livelihoods in the transport sector.