Nangalama has tasked fuel station operators across the country to adhere to industry standards for successful operations elaborating that UNBS has got enforcement mechanisms to address non- compliance.
One of the fuel stations in Hoima city. UNBS and Energy ministry have cautioned residents in the Bunyoro against consumption of adulterated fuel.Photo by Emmanuel Okello.
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has appealed to people in
the Bunyoro sub-region to only purchase fuel from gazetted points to avoid
consumption of adulterated fuel.
According to UNBS, the adulterated fuel compromises quality
hence making consumers consume poor and substandard fuel.
Speaking during the Fuel Marking and Quality Monitoring
program (FMQP) sensitisation meeting on Friday for the Bunyoro sub-region organized by UNBS and the Ministry of
Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) at Miika Eco Resort Hotel in Hoima City, Richard Makayi Nangalama, the Deputy Executive Director in charge of
Financial services and management at UNBS warned fuel dealers to desist
from Adulteration.
He appealed to motorists to desist from purchasing fuel sold in jerrycans and bottles by the roadside stating that the practice is unsafe and not recommended
since some of the people vending fuel by the roadside add in foreign substances that compromise the quality
and quantity of fuel.
Nangalama has tasked fuel station operators across the
country to adhere to industry standards for successful operations elaborating
that, UNBS has got enforcement mechanisms to address non-compliance.
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He appealed to leaders, and fuel dealers in the region to cooperate with the government to collectively
fight the adulteration.
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Rev. Justus Frank Tukwasibwe, the Commissioner of the Petroleum Supply Department in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development noted that massive sensitisation needs to be conducted to eliminate the vice.
He says as a ministry, they are doing all it takes to mobilise
and sensitize fuel dealers across the country and the public at large on the
dangers of adulteration of fuel.
Tukwasibwe says, in the Bunyoro sub-region cases of dumping,
smuggling and adulteration are common.
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Peter Kitimbo, a supervisor at the UNBS explained that the government
has come up with the fuel marking program to help combat fuel Adulteration in
the country.
He says the program has mobile testing laboratories that are
used to conduct spot sampling and testing fuel quality at fuel stations across
the country.
Kitimbo added that through the initiative, fuel designated for local
consumption in the country is marked at the border points to avoid adulteration.
Jose Tusubira, a fuel dealer from Kagadi says, adulteration is common at some fuel stations stating that UNBS and
the ministry should ensure that they immediately address the issue so clients do not consume poor-quality fuel.
According to UNBS, fuel Adulteration refers to an illegal
introduction of any foreign substance into fuel to increase its quantity,
leading to non-compliance with standards specifications.
