education 4 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Fuel Price Surge Hits Karamoja Students Hard, Urgent Call for Local University
Rising fuel costs in Uganda are making it increasingly difficult for Karamoja students to travel over 200 km for university education, with bus fares now at Shs70,000 per trip. Advocates urge the National Council for Higher Education to approve the Karamoja Peace and Technology University to ease this burden. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/fuel-shocks-why-karamoja-cannot-wait-any-longer-5446074
Uganda is grappling with soaring fuel prices amid global supply disruptions, including tensions in the Middle East blocking key oil routes like the Strait of Hormuz. Petrol in Kampala has jumped from Shs4,800 to nearly Shs7,000 per litre, while remote areas like Arua see prices up to Shs8,000, causing widespread stockouts.
The transport sector bears the brunt, inflating costs across food chains and services. In Karamoja, Uganda’s most marginalized region, this crisis hits hardest for aspiring university students. Without a local institution, they must travel over 200 km, now facing bus fares of at least Shs70,000—unaffordable for many families.
This underscores the need for the Karamoja Peace and Technology University (KAPATU). Establishing it would cut transport barriers, ensuring education access isn’t dictated by fuel shocks or distance. The National Council for Higher Education should grant a provisional licence to KAPATU amid this crisis.
Broader solutions like electric vehicles are emerging, but local reforms are vital for Karamoja’s youth.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)