RUBiS Uganda has expanded its retail network with the addition of 10 new fuel stations, strengthening the company’s presence across Uganda as it seeks to bring its products and services closer to motorists and communities.
The new stations are located in Nabbingo, Naluvule, Nakirebe, Lyantonde, Busabala, Kulambiro, Kasangati, Kisoga, Namusera and Masaka Bypass, according to William Fillet, Managing Director of RUBiS Uganda.
The expansion comes as the French-owned energy company continues to roll out its brand across the country. Fillet said 67 service stations have so far been rebranded to the RUBiS identity, while another eight stations are in the pipeline for rebranding.
“These stations are part of our continued expansion across Uganda, bringing the RUBiS brand closer to more customers and making our products and services more accessible to motorists and communities across the country,” Fillet said.
He said the expansion is intended to respond to the diverse needs of Ugandans who depend on road transport for their livelihoods, businesses and daily mobility.
“Every day, I encounter drivers with very different journeys and very different needs. The taxi driver is trying to maximise every trip, the boda boda rider whose motorcycle is his livelihood, the family driving across the country, and the fleet manager looking after dozens of vehicles,” Fillet said.
According to him, despite the differences among motorists, customers share common expectations of value, reliability and quality.
“They want value, reliability, and to know that when they spend money at a service station, they are getting something that works for them.”
Fillet said RUBiS is also transforming its service stations from conventional refuelling points into broader convenience and automotive service centres.
The company currently operates 29 RUBiS Enjoy shops, with more under construction. The outlets provide motorists and travellers with convenience products and refreshments while expanding the range of services available at RUBiS stations.
RUBiS has also established 18 Castrol bays, providing specialised lubricant products and services. The company has introduced dedicated Castrol Power 1 boda service points aimed at motorcycle taxi operators.
Fillet said the initiative recognises the central role played by boda boda riders in Uganda’s transport system, with motorcycles serving as a primary source of income for many riders.
“Boda boda riders are an incredibly important part of Uganda’s mobility ecosystem. For many, the motorcycle is their livelihood.”
He said RUBiS was therefore developing services that are more specifically tailored to the needs of this customer segment.
The company is also investing in improvements to station facilities, including a toilet improvement project, which Fillet said forms part of efforts to improve the overall customer experience.
“The customer experience is made up of many small details. When a family stops at a RUBiS station during a long journey, when a driver takes a break, or when a customer simply needs a clean and comfortable facility, those moments matter.”
French Ambassador to Uganda Virginie Leroy welcomed RUBiS’ expansion, describing the company’s growing network as a sign of confidence in Uganda’s economy.
She congratulated the company for investing in its network, people, service quality and access to products across the country.
“Rubis has been developing its network tremendously over the past years, rebranding some petrol stations, but also opening new ones. As I said, investing in people, and this is a testimony of the confidence of Rubis company in the Ugandan economy.”
Leroy said private-sector investment is an important indicator of business confidence in the country.
“When the private sector invests, the reason is that they strongly believe and they are confident in the economy and in the partnership they are building in the country.”
She also welcomed the company’s expansion beyond Kampala and other major urban centres, saying a wider network was important for motorists travelling across Uganda.
“Uganda is not only Kampala, is not only in the big cities, and the developments, the added value, I would say the richness of Uganda is all abroad the country, all around the country. So it’s very important that you decided to expand your network all over the country.”
Leroy said access to reliable fuel and automotive products is particularly important for motorists travelling long distances, who need confidence that they can find quality products along their routes.
The ambassador, however, cautioned that expansion should go hand in hand with quality and safety.
“As I said at the same time, growth must go hand to hand with quality, because this is where you build trust in your brands and the good relation with your customers.”
She commended RUBiS for investing in reliable products and safer facilities, noting that fuel stations require particular attention to safety because of the nature of the products handled.
