Minister Nabakooba issues new guidelines for illegally located fuel stations endangering people’s lives and property

While launching the Physical Planning Regulations for Location of Fuel Stations at the media center in Kampala, the Minister of lands, housing and urban development Judith Nabakooba said that all stake holders involved  in the establishment of fuel stations should consider use of regulations whenever a fuel station is to be constructed to ensure safety of people and property.

The new regulations gazetted  in April 2022, highlight development permissions for fuel stations, planning conditions, occupation permits and completion certificates plus offences and penalties.

“We developed these regulations after consultations with different Ministries, departments and agencies and we agreed that the development process should begin within the local government” Nabakooba added.

In accordance to the Act, a person who wishes to construct a fuel station shall first apply for development permission and this should be done at the relevant local government.

In addition to that, the developer applies for a building permit and also submits the building plan and then after conducts an environmental and social impact assessment with the National Environment Management Authority.

There after the developer applies for the petroleum facility construction permit and this is to be issued by the Ministry of Energy prior to commencing construction.

With the new planning conditions, a fuel station shall not be located less than 200 meters from facilities such as schools, hospitals, market, public play ground, library and auditorium to reduce the threat on people in case of an outbreak.

Furthermore a developer shall provide and maintain a physical barrier in form of a wall fence along the boundary in case the station adjoins with a residential area and it shall not be close to a sensitive ecosystem such as national park, lake, forest, river or a historical site.

In other general conditions, a proposed developer shall obtain a letter of no objection from Uganda National Roads Authority if the fuel station is to be constructed along the road managed by the authority and also a fuel station shall have at least three well labeled litterbins for biodegradable and toxic waste accessible for all travelers and motorists.

After completion, the developer will be entitled to acquire an occupation and completion certificate all in the respective Ministry in order to start operations.

Developers were also warned of the offences and the penalties that may face them if they fail to comply.

Amanda Ngabirano the chairperson National Physical Planning Board said the recent research indicated that fuel evaporation can lead to cancer infections and it’s due to those factors that they are becoming stricter on these measures.