Rukungiri Motorists want gov’t to regulate fuel Prices.

Rukungiri: Motorist in Rukungiri district have urged government to address the rising fuel prices that have hit hard the transport industry in Uganda.

Motorists say the increase in fuel prices has greatly affected their daily incomes with some hinting on leaving the transport sector.

Taxi drivers who ply the Rukungiri- Mbarara route including Gilbert Magezi and Liberty Akashaba told our reporter that a litre of petrol now costs between 5,560 and 5,800 shillings while diesel costs between 5010 and 5400 shillings.

They said this situation has affected them to the extent of selling their other properties to repay the loans they incurred while purchasing their taxis.

Magezi said passengers are reluctant to pay the increased transport fairs despite the increase in fuel prices, making the transport business more difficult.

Another taxi driver, Mathias Sharira, hailing from Kayanga village, Kisiizi parish, Nyarushanje sub-county told our reporter that the number of passengers has greatly gone down and the available ones are only willing to pay the transport fairs they have been paying before fuel prices went high.

Isaac Akampanya, a boda boda rider from Buhandagazi trading center, in buyanja sub-county shared similar concerns arguing government to regulate the fuel prices.

Government officials have severally assured the country on the stability of fuel supply and prices despite the ongoing US, Israel and Iran war that has negatively affected the global fuel supply.