[Independent (Kampala)] Kampala -- Fuel prices continue to oscillate between 6,300 shilling (1.68 dollars) and 6,700 shillings per litre for both petrol and diesel, contributing most to the high average prices of goods and services in the second quarter of 2026. FILE: Motorists lining up for fuel at Lugogo Bypass. UNBS says adulterated fuel has dropped in the recent years.
INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA Kampala, Uganda | URN | Fuel prices continue to oscillate between 6,300 shilling (1.68 dollars) and 6,700 shillings per litre for both petrol and diesel, contributing most to the high average prices of goods and services in the second quarter of 2026. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), at the end of June 2026, the average price of goods and services has risen by 3.7 percent over the previous 12 months, continuing the trend that started in March. I’m that month, inflation was recorded at 2.9 percent, up from 2.8% in February.
It has since been rising, meaning that the pace of increase in the average prices was every subsequent month. It hit 3 percent in April, and rose to 3.2 percent in May before peaking at 3.7 last month. This trend corresponds with the timelines of the fuel supply disruptions that started at the end of February (when pump prices in Kampala were averaging 5,000 shillings per litre) with the war in the Middle East.
In May, for example, UBOS recorded the inflation for the energy, utilities and fuel at 9.1 percent, but this increased to 11.9% for the 12 months ending June, reflecting the raid rise in the prices during June. In particular, fuel prices rose fastest, posting an inflation rate of 26.2% at the end of June, compared to 16.6 recorded at the end of May. Diesel prices were rising fastest and posted an inflation rate of 37.3 percent up from 27.5 percent at the end of May.
These fuel price increases were largely responsible for the rate of increases in the costs of transport. In the year ending June, passenger transport fares increased at a rate of 11.9 percent, compared to the 9.9 percent rate recorded at the end of May. This was seen in the increases in the bus and taxi fares on most routes across the country, as operators sought to maintain profitability amidst the fuel price hikes.
Away from the effects of fuel prices, UBOS reports also note rising prices of beef and rice, though generally, the food inflation remained stable at 0 percent. This was because of matooke which recorded inflation of minus 6.6 compared to minus 3.4 at the end of May. Other significant drops were in the prices of dry beans, carrots and onions, which reflects seasonal trends.
Summary from source