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Uganda Seeks to End Fuel Dependence on Kenya
Uganda is bidding farewell to Kenyan petroleum, setting up its own importation system in a move to cut reliance on its neighbor and reduce the impact of high pump prices.
The landlocked nation currently imports more than 90% of its petroleum products through the Port of Mombasa in Kenya, but the government now says it will source and supply its own products directly from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The move comes after Uganda’s Cabinet approved a bill that seeks to give the Uganda National Oil Company Limited (UNOC) the mandate to import petroleum products into the country.
The government says the new system will reduce its exposure to “occasional supply vulnerabilities” and help to keep pump prices stable.
The bill is now awaiting approval by Parliament, and if passed, Uganda will become the first country in the East African Community to import petroleum products directly from the Gulf states.
The government has assured the public that the transition to the new system will be smooth and that there will be no disruption to fuel supply.
The decision to cut reliance on Kenya for petroleum comes in the wake of an all-time-high fuel price hike in Kenya.
In Nairobi, a litre of petrol now costs KSh.217.36, diesel KSh.205.47, and kerosene KSh.205.06.
The high fuel prices in Kenya have been attributed to a number of factors, including the high cost of living and the global supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, some experts have also opined that the Kenyan government’s decision to import petroleum products on a government-to-government basis may have played a role in the high prices.
Under the new system, Uganda will maintain buffer stocks of petroleum products in the country and in Tanzania. This will help to ensure that there is no disruption to fuel supply in case of any supply disruptions.
The Ugandan government has also said that it is in active dialogue with the Kenyan government to ensure a smooth implementation of the policy change.
Pope Francis To Attend COP28 In Dubai
Pope Francis will attend the COP28 climate talks in Dubai, starting on November 30, 2023. This will be the first time a pope has attended a COP meeting in person since the process began in 1995.
Francis has made the environment one of the main themes of his papacy. In early October, he published an update on his landmark thesis on climate change, warning that some damage is “already irreversible.”
The pope has urged world leaders to make binding agreements on moving from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. He has also said that the Dubai talks “can represent a change of direction” in the fight against climate change.
The appointment of Sultan Al Jaber, the head of Emirati energy giant ADNOC, as president-designate of the COP28 talks has drawn criticism from environmentalists. However, Francis has noted that the United Arab Emirates is also making significant investments in renewable energy sources.
The trip to Dubai will be the 45th overseas visit by the pope since he was elected. He has said he needs to slow down, however, after suffering a series of health issues in recent years.
Ugandan Troops Kill Attackers of British Tourists
Ugandan forces avenge the deaths of tourists murdered in Queen Elizabeth National Park
At least 11 militants have been killed by Ugandan troops in an operation to track down those responsible for the murder of two tourists and their tour guide in Queen Elizabeth National Park last month.
The victims, British citizen David Barlow, his South African wife Emmaretia Geyer, and Ugandan tour guide Eric Alyai, were gunned down by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic State-linked rebel group with a presence in western Uganda.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) immediately launched a massive operation to track down the militants, and on Tuesday night, they were finally gunned down on Lake Edward, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
UPDF spokesperson Lt Col Deo Akiiki said the attackers were part of the group that killed the tourists, and that the operation to eliminate all splinter groups of ADF is still ongoing.
In June, ADF fighters raided a Ugandan school in a surprise attack, killing 41 children. The group has been behind a number of other atrocities in the region, and the Ugandan government is determined to bring them to justice.
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