Museveni
explained that Uganda bought fuel through Kenyan intermediaries until 2019,
when Cyrus Jirongo tipped him off about unnecessary markups, leading to a 2023
direct deal with Vitol that slashed 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.
He thanked Kenya's President Ruto for later
easing access to the pipeline where Uganda holds a 20.15 percent stake. Kenyan
critics like Rigathi Gachagua called it a con, demanding audits, while the
Energy Ministry defended the 2023 setup as a fix for dollar shortages; the
remarks have reignited calls for contract transparency ahead of 2027 elections.
