Tororo Fuel Crisis: Desperate Motorists Hunt for Petrol as Prices Soar
Tororo, Uganda – A worsening fuel shortage has left residents of Tororo scrambling for petrol, with motorists carrying jerrycans from station to station in a desperate bid to keep their vehicles running.
As pump prices surge from Shs5,000 to nearly Shs7,000 per litre—and up to Shs10,000 in rural areas—many are struggling to afford fuel, forcing some to abandon work altogether.
A Frantic Search for Fuel
What might look like a search for water is, in reality, a frantic hunt for petrol. Motorists and boda-boda riders crisscross the town, checking every filling station for dwindling supplies. Some have traveled from distant villages, hoping to stock up before prices climb even higher.
Robert Ochwo, a local motorist, told reporters: “In the villages, fuel is now sold at Shs10,000. That’s why I’ve come to town with these jerrycans—to buy and stock up before it gets worse.”
Stranded Vehicles and Tragic Consequences
The crisis has left many stranded. Some drivers have run out of fuel mid-journey, while others have been forced to turn to the black market.
For Denis Etiang, a special hire driver, the shortage had deadly consequences. “A day ago, I was transporting a patient to the hospital, but we ran out of fuel on the way. I tried calling around Tororo for help, but by the time I got fuel from Kenya, the patient had died,” he recounted.
Transport Operators on the Brink
Taxi and boda-boda operators say they can no longer sustain their businesses at current fares. Many drivers sit idle, unable to find customers willing to pay higher transport costs.
“With fares at Shs25,000 to Kampala, there’s nothing left to save. That’s why many drivers are abandoning their vehicles. We must increase fares starting tomorrow,” said Muhammed Mwima, chairperson of Tororo Taxi Park.
Calls for Government Intervention
As frustration grows, residents and business owners are urging the government to step in and stabilize fuel prices before the crisis spirals further out of control.
For now, the people of Tororo remain caught in a daily struggle—one jerrycan at a time.
— Reported by Nexio News
