NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says remarks by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni about Uganda’s fuel procurement arrangements have strengthened his longstanding criticism of Kenya’s Government-to-Government (G-to-G) fuel deal.
Gachagua, speaking to Kenyans living in Kansas City, United States, on Friday, September 18, said Museveni’s disclosure that Uganda had been buying petroleum products through middlemen in Kenya echoed concerns he had previously raised about the arrangement.
Museveni said on Thursday, September 17, that an unnamed Kenyan senator had alerted him that Uganda was procuring petroleum products through intermediaries in Kenya. He said the information prompted his government to review the arrangement and move towards more direct procurement.
Gachagua says Museveni remarks vindicate him
Gachagua said he had previously questioned Kenya’s G-to-G fuel arrangement after conducting what he described as his own due diligence.
He said Museveni’s remarks had now reinforced his concerns.
“And I’m happy that President Museveni has realised that Uganda has been conned by William Ruto. I think he just fell short of naming his Kenyan counterpart.”
Gachagua said he believed Museveni had avoided directly naming President William Ruto because of the diplomatic relationship between Kenya and Uganda.
However, Museveni did not publicly accuse Ruto of conning Uganda. In his remarks, the Ugandan president said only that a Kenyan senator had alerted him to Uganda’s use of middlemen in Kenya.
Gachagua alleges Ruto used a proxy company
Gachagua went further by alleging that the Kenyan G-to-G arrangement involved a proxy company.
“He went to the Middle East and identified three companies and made a deal with them and then looked for a proxy, a company called Gulf Oil. That is the company that fronts William Ruto. So he is the one doing business.”
Gachagua did not provide evidence during the remarks to substantiate his allegation that Ruto personally controls or does business through Gulf Energy.
Kenya’s G-to-G fuel framework was introduced to stabilise fuel supplies and reduce pressure on foreign-exchange reserves. President Ruto’s administration has continued to defend the arrangement, saying it has helped maintain reliable fuel supplies and cushion consumers from price volatility.
Museveni says middlemen increased Uganda’s fuel costs
Museveni said his government had previously relied on intermediaries in Kenya to procure petroleum products and that he intervened after learning about the arrangement.
He cited reductions in petroleum premiums after Uganda changed its procurement model.
According to figures presented by Museveni and Ugandan energy officials, the premium on diesel fell from US$118 to US$83 per metric tonne, while petrol fell from US$97.50 to US$61.50. The premium on aviation fuel reportedly dropped from US$114.25 to US$79.25.
Museveni did not identify the Kenyan senator who alerted him.
Uganda moves towards direct fuel imports
Uganda has subsequently increased the role of the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) in importing petroleum products.
The shift followed a 2024 agreement between Kenya and Uganda allowing UNOC to import refined petroleum products directly from producer countries while using Kenyan infrastructure for transit.
President Ruto said at the time that the agreement would allow Uganda to import refined petroleum products directly from producer jurisdictions and address challenges in the sector.
The arrangement means Uganda can continue using infrastructure such as the Port of Mombasa and Kenya’s petroleum transportation network while changing how it procures fuel.
Gachagua compares himself with Museveni
Gachagua also addressed criticism from Kenyans who have questioned how he could have been misled by Ruto while serving as Deputy President.
He compared his experience with Museveni’s account of discovering that Uganda had been relying on middlemen.
“If he can deceive the Ugandan president, who is Gachagua from Wamunyoro?”
Gachagua praised Museveni’s political experience, describing him as a leader who had spent decades in power and had fought a prolonged armed struggle before becoming president.
He used the comparison to explain why, in his view, he should not be singled out for failing to detect what he alleges were problems with Kenya’s fuel arrangement.
Gachagua repeats claims over G-to-G deal
Gachagua said the latest developments had left him feeling vindicated over his previous criticism of the fuel procurement framework.
“You can now appreciate why sometimes I feel vindicated.”
He also alleged that Ruto had persuaded Museveni that Uganda’s fuel arrangement was genuinely government-to-government.
“William Ruto has actually made money from Uganda. The guy is not just stealing from Kenyans; he has now even gone to the neighbouring country.”
That allegation has not been established as a finding against President Ruto.
