Oil Discovery in Uganda
Commercial quantities of oil discovered in the Albertine Graben region of western Uganda, marking the beginning of Uganda's journey as an oil-producing nation.
Petroleum Legislation Enacted
The Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Act, 2013 was enacted, providing the legal framework for the establishment of a national oil company.
UNOC Established
Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) was established under the Petroleum Act to manage the commercial interests of the Government of Uganda in the petroleum sector.
Operationalization of UNOC
UNOC became fully operational with the appointment of its first Board of Directors and Executive Management team. The company began building its organizational capacity.
Strategic Partnerships
UNOC entered into key partnerships with international oil companies and service providers to build capacity and ensure successful project delivery.
Final Investment Decision
The Final Investment Decision (FID) for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) was signed, marking a historic milestone for Uganda's petroleum sector.
Upstream FID
Final Investment Decisions signed for the Tilenga and Kingfisher upstream development projects, paving the way for commercial oil production.
Construction Begins
Major construction activities commenced on the EACOP pipeline and upstream facilities, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Significant Progress
EACOP pipeline construction reached 50% completion. Local content achievements exceeded targets with significant participation of Ugandan businesses and workforce.
Accelerated Development
Upstream drilling operations intensified across Tilenga and Kingfisher fields. Community development programs expanded to cover more districts in the Albertine region.
Pre-Production Phase
Final preparations for first oil production, including commissioning of facilities and completion of pipeline construction.
First Oil Target
Target year for achieving first oil production, marking Uganda's entry as an oil-producing nation and the beginning of commercial oil exports.
Uganda's Oil Story
Uganda's petroleum journey began in earnest in 2006 when commercial quantities of oil were discovered in the Albertine Graben, a rift valley region in western Uganda. This discovery transformed Uganda's economic prospects and set the stage for the country to become East Africa's next oil producer.
The Albertine Graben holds an estimated 6.5 billion barrels of oil in place, with approximately 1.4 billion barrels recoverable. Oil discoveries have been made in 21 fields across the region, with the Tilenga and Kingfisher fields being the most significant for initial development.
To ensure that Ugandans benefit from these resources, the Government established UNOC as the national oil company. UNOC holds the State's participating interests in petroleum projects and works to build local capacity, create employment, and ensure sustainable development of the sector.
Today, Uganda stands on the threshold of becoming an oil-producing nation, with first oil expected in 2026. The development of the 1,443km East African Crude Oil Pipeline, the world's longest heated pipeline, will connect Uganda's oil fields to the Port of Tanga in Tanzania, opening up global markets for Ugandan crude.