TotalEnergies Uganda is in the eye of a storm after a government investigation discovered that the French-owned company swapped fuel meant for the Ugandan market into Kenya, contributing to shortages at several of its stations especially in Kampala and neighboring districts.
According to sources familiar with the matter, discrepancies were detected through a fuel tracking system operated by NEC DW FinSprint, showing gaps between volumes released for Uganda and those reaching retail stations.
NEC DW FinSprint is a joint venture involving the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the commercial arm of the UPDF and a private sector technology service provider. The platform is designed to digitally monitor fuel movements across the supply chain, from importation and storage to distribution at retail outlets, enabling authorities to detect discrepancies, prevent diversion and enhance transparency in Uganda’s petroleum logistics system.
“Yes, it was a very sad incident,” one government source told ChimpReports, “adding, “Imagine we are struggling to maintain an adequate supply of fuel for the Ugandan market while TotalEnergies is looking for ways of making more money in the region.”
Multiple sources, who preferred anonymity to speak freely, said the government warned the company, which expressed regret.
“Fuel was paid for Total Energies Uganda and was released by UNOC, but not all of it showed up at Ugandan stations.”
The development comes as motorists report dry pumps across Kampala and major highways.
“On Thursday, I was at Total Komamboga which had no fuel too,” wrote Robbins Mayiga on X.
“Total petrol stations (Luzira and Kitintale) don’t always have fuel,” said Musa Kasenene, while another motorist, Justus Musiika, posted: “I went to Total Kiboga today… Empty!”
Price Incentives
Officials pointed to price differences between Uganda and Kenya as a key driver of Total Energies’ behavior.
Kenya’s regulated pump prices range between Shs4,900 and Shs6,000 per litre for petrol and Shs4,500 to Shs5,600 for diesel, according to Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
In Uganda, prices are more stable, averaging Shs4,900 to Shs5,300 for petrol and Shs4,500 to Shs5,000 for diesel.
Even a modest gap creates room for arbitrage.
Market Impact
Retail prices have begun edging up, with petrol in Kampala now averaging Shs5,300–Shs5,400 per litre, as localized shortages tighten availability.
Uganda consumes about 2.3 million litres of petroleum products daily and relies entirely on imports routed through Kenya and Tanzania, making distribution efficiency critical.
TotalEnergies is one of Uganda’s largest fuel retailers, meaning disruptions within its network can have wide effects on availability and pricing.
Continued diversion could tighten local supply despite adequate national stocks, raising transport costs and affecting the broader economy.
Fuel affects everything, transport, food and business.
The official data from the Ministry of Energy and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) shows that national stocks remain stable, pointing to possible distribution gaps rather than a supply shortfall.
The Energy Ministry recently said Uganda held about 81 million litres of petrol, 80 million litres of diesel and 18.5 million litres of Jet A-1, equivalent to roughly 22–23 days of cover for road fuels, with additional shipments of 195 million litres of petrol and 155 million litres of diesel expected to reinforce supply beyond April.
Uganda’s supply stability has largely been supported by UNOC’s centralized import system and its partnership with Vitol, which sources fuel from multiple global markets to cushion against disruptions such as those affecting the Middle East.
However, the current situation exposes vulnerabilities in regional distribution chains.
TotalEnergies Uganda had not commented by publication time, as calls grew for regulators to take action on the reported supply gaps.
