MPs divided on law monopolizing fuel import to UNOC

The Members of Parliament on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of Parliament are divided on the proposed law titled the Petroleum Supply’s Act 2023 that seeks to give the Uganda National Oil Copmpany powers to monopolize import of fuel in Uganda. The Committee chaired by Dr. Emmanuel Otala has been meeting for a week but sources say the majority of the MPs have rejected a clause that gives UNOC powers to monopolize import of fuel.

According to Ruth nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, the bill seeks to reduce the prices of fuel and petroleum products a reason it is being championed. Last week, the President of Uganda Gen YK Museveni expressed concern over the continued cheating of Ugandans by the middle men in Kenya who sell fuel to Uganda .

According to Hon Nyakato Asinansi, the woman MP for Hoima City who also doubles as the shadow Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, by Monday 13th November 2023, the MPs were divided on the said bill although the committee was set to convene today (Tuesday 14th November) to finalize the report which would be tabled in Parliament for discussion. According to Nyakato the MPs did not do any benchmarking in any country where there is such  a monopoly so as to appreciate how they are running.

MPs on the Environment and Natural Resources in a meeting at Common Wealth Hotel, Munyonyo

The Kiboga District Woman MP, Christine Kaaya also said that as MPs they had not accessed the contract that UNOC recently signed with Vitol Bahrain Company to supply fuel to Uganda and said that she could not support the bill before knowing what the contract entails!

Parliament is getting out of a two weeks recess today 14th November 2023 amidst protests from the opposition MPs  and the said report is expected to be tabled for discussion