Speaking on September 17, Museveni explained Uganda previously bought
petroleum through Kenyan middlemen until a senator tipped him off, leading to a
switch to direct sourcing that dropped diesel premiums from $118 to $83 per
metric tonne, petrol from $97.50 to $61.50, and aviation fuel from $114.25 to
$79.25.
Kenyan opposition leaders like Rigathi Gachagua and Paul Muite called it a broker scheme passing higher costs to consumers, while groups demanded audits and publication of the deal.
Kenya's government highlighted strong bilateral ties without rebutting the claims, as analysts debate if the entities were just logistics agents amid rising calls for transparency.