Uganda's Fuel Market Hits 99.3% Quality Compliance, Authorities Warn Against Adulteration

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), in collaboration with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), recently revealed an impressive 99.3% rate of compliance with fuel quality standards in Uganda.

During a series of awareness events held in the Western districts of Kasanda, Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Fortportal, and Bundibugyo as part of the Fuel Marking and Quality Monitoring Program (FMQMP), John Friday, the Assistant Commissioner of the Petroleum Supply Department at MEMD, shared these findings.

"Compliance has improved. We are now operating at 99.3% compliance for the fuel on the market. The few areas reported for adulteration usually mix petroleum products with paraffin, however, we hold them accountable in line with penalties enshrined in the Petroleum Supply Act," Friday stated.

Peter Kitimbo, the FMQMP's field supervisor and a Principal Analyst at UNBS's Petroleum laboratories, noted that out of 4,877 registered fuel stations across the country, less than 1% are found to be non-compliant and are subsequently dealt with according to stringent legal measures.

"The law empowers us to seal off a non-compliant fuel station of a first-time offender, and charge them a penalty amounting to 10% of the amount got after multiplying the volumes of fuel found in the tank by the pump price, at the time of the seal off. For a second-time offender, you are penalised as mentioned and also receive a warning from the Commissioner in charge of Petroleum Supply at MEMD. For a third-time offender, the license is revoked and a fourth-time offender is discharged from business," Kitimbo detailed.

He also encouraged all fuel stations to adhere to the standards and register with MEMD. Additionally, he advised motorists to only buy fuel from outlets displaying UNBS stickers on their pumps, ensuring the fuel's quality and quantity.

"We regulate quality and quantity of petroleum products at registered fuel stations and we urge the public to avoid buying petroleum products sold in bottles and jerrycans because we do not know the quality of such products," Kitimbo emphasized.

Moreover, he urged local authorities to prevent the sale of fuel in unregulated environments like bottles and jerrycans.

The FMQMP is a government initiative, led by MEMD and UNBS, aimed at overseeing and ensuring the quality of petroleum products across Uganda's entire supply chain.