The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) conducted a large-scale emergency response drill on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at the Kabalega Industrial Park in Hoima District, critically assessing the country’s preparedness for potential disasters in the emerging oil and gas sector.
The exercise, which simulated a fire outbreak that resulted in multiple casualties, was a crucial step towards ensuring the sector is ready for first oil production, yet it exposed several significant capacity deficiencies among key government agencies.
Led by the PAU as the sector’s coordinating agency for disaster preparedness, the drill brought together all major licensed oil companies that include: TotalEnergies EP Uganda, CNOOC Uganda Ltd, EACOP Ltd, and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), alongside key government entities.
Participants included the Ministry of Health, the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda People’s Defence Force, the Civil Aviation Authority, and district local governments from the Albertine Graben.
The exercise tested the swift and coordinated response of all stakeholders, with the Police and Ministry of Health taking the lead in firefighting and medical casualty management.
Critical Gaps Exposed Ahead of First Oil
Following the debriefing session, the results highlighted a stark reality.
Mr. Joel Tumwebaze, PAU’s Manager for Health and Safety, who represented the Executive Director, Mr. Ernest Rubondo, noted that the drill exposed important gaps that must be immediately addressed as Uganda prepares for its first oil.
“This exercise has helped us observe the challenges faced by MDAs (Ministries, Departments, and Agencies). Most lack even basic protective gear, and the biggest challenge remains building capacity,” said Tumwebaze.
He emphasised that while the simulated scenario involved only a few casualties, the lack of manpower and equipment at the district level is a serious concern for a sector where thousands of workers may be on site.
Mr. Justus Tumwesigye, Managing Director of Glauben Industrial Services Ltd, the firm that conducted the training, reinforced this point.
He stressed that while International Oil Companies (IOCs) have robust internal systems, the government agencies must be ready to step in when incidents exceed company-level capacity.
He further observed that frequent changes in security leadership, such as District Police Commanders, hinder sustained capacity building, and called for the harmonisation of standards to match the high safety benchmarks set by the oil companies.
Call for Continuous Preparedness
Presiding over the closing session, Brig. Gen. Fredrick Rugadya, Head of the National Emergency Coordination and Operations Centre (NECOC) in the Office of the Prime Minister, issued a strong call for continuous preparedness.
“This is a national treasure; we cannot afford to prepare only occasionally. A disaster could be catastrophic. Stakeholders’ capacities must be strengthened continuously to ensure we are always ready,” said Gen. Rugadya.
The successful completion of the drill, despite exposing flaws, is hailed as a vital first step.
It provides a clear, actionable roadmap for the government and its partners to intensify training, procure necessary equipment, and harmonise response protocols, ensuring the entire sector is fully prepared to manage any emergencies as Uganda transitions into an oil-producing nation.