By Leilah Bbaale
The third national conference with civil society organisations and NGOS working on oil and gas sector has kicked off in Kampala. The conference is crucially as the government dialogues with the civil society on human rights and environment concern in the sector.
This year, the Conference under the theme “Discerning the Business, Social and Human Rights Issues in Uganda’s Oil and Gas Sector”is being hosted by the Petroleum Authority. It is aimed at providing key updates on oil and gas developments in Uganda and deliberate on business, social and human rights in relation to the oil and gas sector.
The Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), Ernest Rubondo said the authority has ensured a structured engagement with the civil society. “This structured engagement really starts with the recognition we have on the role of the civil society” he said.
Rubondo said the conference gives the civil society the opportunity with the opportunity to deliberate on the oil and gas sector with information and with the strides that have been made in Uganda’s oil and gas sector.
“We have a lot of the people around the world who are admiring hoe Uganda is progressing in its oil and gas sector. It is important that we recognize the strides that have been made” he remarked.
The projects include Tilenga Project which includes development of 6 oil fields and is estimated to cost US$ 4.5 billion and the Kingfisher Development Area (KFDA), which includes development of 4 oil fields and is estimated to cost about $2 billion. At the end of April 2025, the overall progress on the Kingfisher project was at 63% with 55% of the planned investment.
Rubondo said the progress of the oil and gas sector and its magnitude in the country at the moment is “phenomenal”
“If you think it is not phenomenal, I’ sitting here. I will be happy for you to tell me a more appropriate word to describe the progress of the oil and gas sector in this country,” Rubondo challenged the participants.
“In addition to those aspects to produce oil, the other aspect are preparing to commercialize oil. The commercialization of the oil in Uganda is planned on two fronts. One the East African Crude oil Pipeline.
Oil will be commercialized through taking it to Tanga through the pipeline” he revealed. The EACOP project is close to five billion dollars. It is so far 56% complete.
“This is not far from where it was expected to be. Because those of us who regulate the project expect this project to be 57% completion. So they are doing very well” he added. Progress on the refinery project Towards the end of March, Uganda finalized a deal with UAE-based Alpha MBM Investments LLC to build a crude oil refinery in Hoima District.
The refinery was designed to process 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily. It is expected to significantly reduce Uganda’s reliance on imported fuel. The agreement includes a 60% stake for Alpha MBM Investments and a 40% stake for the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC).
Rubondo noted that the refinery project has slightly moved slower than it was expected. “But many of you are aware that government has now identified a lead investor whom that are going to work with to develop this project”
John Bosco Habumugisha, Deputy Managing Director, EACOP Limited said the construction of the pipeline has so far reached 56% completion.
“This includes many installations. We are now working on the right of way to clear the corridor and we have started the trenching process so that we can get the pipeline delivered “he revealed.
“We are committed not only to complying with the legal requirements in the country but also to international practices. We are working International Finance Corporation performance standards,” he said.
He said the EACOP project has been aligned to the company’s human rights practices with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), ILO Conventions, Ugandan laws and regulatory frameworks, as well as our internal Human Rights Policy and Code of Conduct.
Habumugisha said EACOP has institutionalized human rights governance through a human rights steering committee providing leadership and oversight.
The conference comes days after young people were arrested in Kampala while demonstrating against the development of oil and gas in Uganda. Habumugisha said there is need to address the unemployment problem in Uganda. He said the unemployed you are being lured to participate in demonstrations.
“We still have a real challenge in our country of the right to employment. There are very many young people who are not employed. The challenge with that is that our young people are being compromised to get on the streets and demonstrate against oil and gas” he lamented.
The ECAOP project has faced severe criticism in and out of the country over human rights and environment concerns.
Habumugisha said EACOP wants to work with the civil society to continue advancing best practices in workers welfare through the value chain.
Dr. Arthur Bainomugisha, the Executive Director at the Advocates Coalition For Development and Environment ACODE) thanked the government for availing civil society an opportunity to walk in the journey through the development of oil and gas sector.
“And I want to thank that today we have an enabling policy, legal framework and institutional framework” whose organization host hosts Civil Society Coalition on Oil (CISCO).
