President Museveni has credited Kenyan President William Ruto with helping Uganda push through a new fuel import arrangement after resistance from some actors in Kenya.
Museveni said the arrangement allowed Uganda to move away from petroleum middlemen and deal with bulk suppliers.
“I want to thank H.E Ruto because he prevailed over some actors in Kenya who were trying to resist,” Museveni said.
“That is how we got our new arrangement and the Kenya Government allows us to pump our products through the Kenya oil pipeline.”
The President made the remarks in reflections on his 82nd birthday, which he celebrated on September 15, 2026.
He said Uganda previously bought petroleum products through middlemen in Kenya, a practice he only learnt about around 2019.
Museveni said a Kenyan senator alerted him to the arrangement.
“I did not know that these wonderful people were buying those products through middle-men in Kenya by tendering to those middlemen,” he said.
Museveni said he then instructed then Energy minister Irene Muloni to address the problem. He, however, said little changed until Uganda reached an agreement with global energy trader Vitol in 2023.
Under the figures presented by the President, the cost of diesel fell from $118 to $83 per metric tonne, petrol from $97.5 to $61.5 and aviation fuel from $114.25 to $79.25.
Uganda has since strengthened its position in Kenya's fuel infrastructure. Through the Uganda National Oil Company (Unoc), the government acquired a 20.15 per cent stake in Kenya Pipeline Company earlier this year.
Unoc says about 95 per cent of Uganda's petroleum imports pass through Kenya, making the pipeline system critical to the country's fuel supply.
“We are very happy with the Kenya Government of President Ruto on this matter,” Mr Museveni said.
His comments came days after he broke ground for the 320-million-litre Kampala Storage Terminal in Mpigi District on September 17, 2026.
The facility is intended to expand Uganda's strategic fuel reserves and protect the country against supply disruptions. The government says it will be developed on about 300 acres.
Museveni also used his birthday message to renew his call for deeper African integration.
He thanked what he described as eight million people who sent him birthday wishes and said he hoped to live another 18 years to reach 100.
The President said Africa must pursue three unfinished “historical missions” to protect future generations from economic and security threats.
He listed an integrated African market to support wealth creation, greater political integration for strategic security and stronger unity among the continent's linguistic groups.
Museveni also cited the proposed East African Federation as an example of the political integration he wants African countries to pursue.
He said closer economic and political cooperation would strengthen Africa's prosperity and security.
