Nairobi, April 7 -- Uganda rejected Kenya's request to use its fuel reserves in Kenya Pipeline Company's network and stave off a petrol shortage, triggering arrests and a fallout over a Sh11.8 billion contested import cargo.

A confidential brief from former Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban shows that Kenya sought an unspecified amount of the petrol meant for Uganda as one of the stop-gap measures to avert a shortage of the commodity from April 4.

Kenya promised Uganda it will reimburse the fuel once its delayed cargo lands in the country amid the supply concerns ⁠linked to the Iran conflict, which has affected global energy markets.

Sources reckon that Uganda turned down Nairobi's requests, fretful that the uncert...