Hellen Aguyo Okello
KOTIDO: The high fuel costs across the country are having ripple effect on the economy, pushing high the cost of transportation, goods and services specially in the Karamoja Sub-region.
Since the start of US-Israel war with Iran that resulted into closure of Straits Hormuz, the prices of fuel pumps have spiked with a litre of petrol costing between Shs6590 and Shs7,000, while diesel ranges from Shs5,780 to Shs6,000 depending on the location one is buying from.
Speaking to our reporter, tax operators in Kotido Municipality said despite stable fuel stocks, transport fares have remained slightly high due to high fuel prices.
Isaiah Ochan, a taxi operator who plies Kotido-Kaabong route noted that the transport fare to Kaabong from Kotido has now increased to Shs20,000 up from the initial Shs15,000.
Despite an increase in transport fares, Ochan, said they face high charges including Shs20,000 for brokers and Shs10,00 to Municipal council per route which suffocates with business.
For Gift Okello, a taxi operator plying along the dusty 190-kilometer stretch between Kotido and Soroti is becoming an increasingly losing battle as more commuters force operators to accept underpriced fares.
He maintains that rising fuel costs and operational expenses has forced them to hike the fares to from Shs30,000 to Shs35,000 per seat
Meanwhile, Gateway bus company the region’s transport giant who have revived their operations on Kotido-Moroto-Namalu to Mbale said their transport have remained stable.
Gabriel Odinga the assistant manager Kotido-Kampala is Shs60.000, Kotido-Lira Shs25.000, Kotido-Soroti Shs30.000 while Kotido-Mbale Shs remains at Shs40,000
