Private vessels, MV Vanessa and Nathalie, have reduced the number of trips from Entebbe to Kalangala due to the rising prices of diesel.
The vessels are usually used by tourists and regular travelers to Bussi Island.
Run by Nyanza Evergreen Waterways, the vessels alternate and make daily trips to and from Kalangala.
The company says that unlike in the past when they have been operating daily, effective next week, the vessels will operate on Monday evening, Tuesday morning, Friday evening, and Sunday afternoon.
Augustine Kibaya, the Operations Manager for both vessels, says it would cost about 2.2 million Shillings for each vessel to make a return journey to Entebbe last year since each trip consumes 200 liters of diesel.
However, diesel prices have risen from an average of 3,500 to 6,200 Shillings in the last six months, translating into 2.4 Million Shillings spent on fuel on a return trip on the private vessel.
Kibaya however says the vessels are making losses because they are carrying less than 30 passengers on the weekdays.
Boat operators in Kalangala and Entebbe are also complaining about high fuel prices coupled with low passenger volumes. Just like MV Vanessa and MV Nathalie, the boat operators have not increased the fares.
Some of the boat operators Javira Kimayo Mugezi and Richard Lwanga have also cut the number of trips to cope with the rising fuel prices.
Fishermen and boat operators in Kalangala use an average of 20 liters of petrol mixed with engine oil daily to and from nearby islands. They are spending over 150,000 Shillings on each 20-liter jerry can up from 80,000 Shillings six months ago.
Lwanga says he might start operating only trip from Nkesse landing site in Mazinga sub-county, Kalangala to Kasenyi landing site in Katabi town council, Wakiso.
He is spending between 900,000 to One Million Shillings for the 120 liters of petrol mixed with oil per trip to and from Kasenyi landing site and yet he charges each passenger 20,000 Shillings.
Mugezi says he no longer operates daily trips from Mwena landing site in Kalangala town council to Kagoonya landing site in Bujjumba sub-county. He instead waits for the boat to be fully booked for passengers and cargo before accepting to operate the boat.
Nelson Ndeyaho, who carries passengers and cargo from Mwena Landing site in Kalangala Town Council to Kagoonya in Bujjumba sub county says few passengers are traveling-URN
