Obongi District Woman Member of Parliament, Manano Zumura, has raised a red flag over the fuel shortages impacting ferry operations in the district, which she believes are the result of recent governmental changes.
In an interview with journalists at parliament, Hon. Zumura expressed her concerns about the negative consequences that the merger of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and the Ministry of Works has had on the smooth functioning of ferry services, which are vital to the community.
“Right now, as I speak, many ferries across the country are being parked because of a lack of fuel,” Zumura said, highlighting the broader issue of operational disruptions that are affecting essential transport services.
Zumura explained that, just last week, the ferry servicing Obongi District received only 500 liters of fuel from the Ministry of Works. In contrast, during the UNRA regime, ferry operators were provided with fuel cards for Total Petrol Stations, ensuring they had the fuel necessary for daily operations. The new arrangement, however, has left many ferries struggling to maintain operations, with the supply now insufficient to keep services running smoothly.
“The merger has created several loopholes that are now affecting ferry services across the country,” Zumura continued. “The ferries are not receiving fuel this evening, and this means that by tomorrow, ferry services will be suspended until further notice unless the Ministry of Works provides additional funding for fuel.”
The Obongi MP also raised a concerning issue about the welfare of the ferry workers. She revealed that many of these workers, who were previously employed by UNRA, have yet to receive their salaries for the past four months despite their critical role in keeping ferry services running.
“These workers have families to care for and bills to clear,” Zumura said. “It is unacceptable that they have been working without compensation for such an extended period. These issues need to be addressed urgently.”
