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“Uganda operates a liberalized downstream petroleum market, where pump prices are determined by the forces of demand and supply as guided by the Petroleum Supply Act of 2003 and Petroleum Supply General Regulations (2009) with amendments of 2012 and 2018,” Okaasai said during plenary on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
Global factors beyond Uganda’s making, he said, are behind the spike. There is, therefore, not much his ministry can do. This statement left MPs rattling.
“The surge in global oil demand to record levels, especially during the summer season in Europe and the United States, has put immense pressure on oil prices. Thus, high demand, driven by seasonal factors and increased economic activity. This has contributed significantly to the recent spike in fuel prices worldwide,” he said.
Enraged, Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju (FDC, Kira Municipality) asked the minister about the much-talked-about fuel reserves. He said, short of solutions, Parliament should not entertain the statement.
“He [Minister Okaasai] should come here and tell us what happened to the reserves, short of which, I move a motion without notice for Parliament to reject the statement,” he said.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, who chaired the sitting, asked the government to develop a tangible plan to scout around the hikes in prices.
This is instead of folding hands and allowing market forces to determine what happens to Ugandans.
“The fuel prices have gone up; what is the government’s immediate, medium-, and long-term plan to address the escalating prices? she asked.
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
