Uganda is getting closer to a point the country has spent years preparing for: the transition from building its oil infrastructure to operating it. The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is about 93% complete by October 2026, with first…
By Ali Ssekatawa The online furore that followed President Yoweri Museveni’s unveiling of Uganda’s crude oil trading name, “Pearl Sweet,” reminded me of Shakespeare’s timeless question in Romeo and Juliet: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose…
Uganda was supposed to produce its first commercial oil by July 31, 2026. That deadline has passed, and First Oil has now been pushed to before the end of June 2027. Yet this is not a story of an oil…
Aliko Dangote is betting that East Africa can become a major refining market. His proposed 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lamu, Kenya, could become one of the region’s biggest industrial investments. But before the plant can turn crude into fuel, it must…
A decade after losing the contest to lead Uganda’s petroleum regulator, Fred Kabanda is again at the centre of the succession debate as PAU prepares for a new Executive Director. Ten years ago, Fred Kabanda was among the leading contenders…
Uganda is about to find out whether having more dollars is the same thing as having a stronger currency. As the country moves closer to commercial oil production, billions of dollars could begin flowing through an economy that already depends…
Uganda is building up its financial reserves, but the strategy is exposing a bigger question about the country’s economic resilience, can Uganda generate enough foreign currency to make those reserves sustainable? The Bank of Uganda has begun buying locally produced…
Uganda’s oil story is entering a new phase. For years, the central question was when Uganda would produce its first barrel. But following President Yoweri Museveni’s latest engagement with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, a bigger question is emerging, what…
For decades, East Africa has occupied a curious position in the global energy economy. The region possesses significant petroleum resources, strategic ports and one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets, yet it continues to import most of the refined fuels…