The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has called upon the public to purchase fuel from gazetted stations to avoid consumption of adulterated fuel.
According to the UNBS Acting Executive Director, Mr. Daniel Richard Makayi Nangalama, fuel sold in Jerrycans and bottles is adulterated and not recommended.
Nangalama made the remarks during the Fuel Marking and Quality Monitoring program (FMQP) sensitisation meeting organised by the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) and UNBS, in Mbale City recently.
“We regulate fuel at gazetted dispensing areas like fuel stations. We want to encourage all Ugandans and the public to buy fuel from fuel stations. Fuel sold in jerrycans and bottles is often adulterated and the quantities tempered with, which is harmful to engines of automobiles as well cheating the consumers .” he said.
Fuel Marking and Quality Monitoring program (FMQP), is designed to control and monitor the quality of petroleum products in the entire supply chain in Uganda.
This time round, the program took place in Eastern Uganda sub-regions of Busoga, Bugwere, Teso, Sebei, Bukedi, and Bugisu.
The UNBS Acting Executive Director also revealed that through the fuel marking and quality monitoring program, fuel adulteration has enormously reduced from 30% in 2015 to less than 0.5% this year, with the Eastern region performing poorly.
“The Eastern region’s compliance level is low that’s why we decided to conduct the Fuel Marking and Quality Monitoring program activities here, to create more awareness and increase compliance. Fuel dealers should desist from malpractices and fuel adulteration vices while Consumers should be vigilant when buying fuel” he stated.
Fuel Adulteration refers to an illegal introduction of any foreign substance into fuel to increase its quantity, leading to non-compliance with standards specifications.
“Fuel adulteration is dangerous because it damages engines of automobiles and cheats the consumer”he added.
To combat the vice, Government introduced the fuel marking program which ensures that all fuel meant for local consumption is marked at the border points.
The program also has mobile testing laboratories used to do spot sampling and testing of fuel quality at all fuel retail stations as well as verifying and calibrating fuel pumps to ensure accuracy of measurements and value for money to the consumers.
“As we move closer to the festive season, fuel dealers are urged to desist from fuel adulteration vices while motorists and the public at large are urged to stay alert while buying fuel from the different fuel stations to avoid being cheated” he advised.
