President Yoweri Museveni has expressed Uganda’s support for a proposed regional oil refinery project following discussions with Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote aimed at strengthening East Africa’s energy and industrial cooperation.
The meeting, held at State Lodge Nakasero, focused on plans to establish a large-scale refinery capable of serving multiple East African countries while promoting regional integration and value addition within the continent’s oil and gas sector.
President Museveni said Uganda is prepared to support the initiative and participate as a shareholder in the project.
“We shall support Mr. Dangote, and we are ready to buy shares in the regional refinery because our goal is regional integration and industrial development,” the President said.
Museveni reiterated Uganda’s long-standing position against the export of raw materials without local processing, emphasizing the importance of value addition in driving industrialization, job creation, and economic transformation.
“We have always been against the export of unprocessed raw materials. That is why Uganda insisted on having a refinery as part of our oil development strategy,” he said.
The President noted that Uganda’s oil development process had taken longer because government prioritized securing local benefits from the country’s petroleum resources before exporting crude oil.
He explained that Uganda’s planned refinery project in Hoima would proceed alongside ongoing discussions on a larger regional refinery that could serve several countries across East Africa.
“We have no problem supporting a broader regional refinery that can guarantee energy security for the region while Uganda also develops its own refinery,” Museveni added.
The proposed refinery project follows engagements held during the Africa We Build Summit 2026, where regional leaders and investors explored opportunities for deeper industrial cooperation.
The refinery is estimated to cost between $15 billion and $17 billion and is expected to process up to 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The facility is intended to serve markets in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other regional economies.
Speaking after the meeting, Dangote said his team is currently assessing possible locations for the refinery, including Tanga, Mombasa, and Lamu, as consultations with regional governments continue.
“This is a continuation of discussions we held with regional leaders in Nairobi. We want to establish a refinery that can support East Africa’s growing energy needs,” Dangote said.
He noted that the refinery would process crude oil sourced from across the region and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
Dangote also assured Ugandans that the project would create employment opportunities for East Africans, citing the multinational workforce employed at his refinery operations in Nigeria.
In addition, he invited officials from Uganda’s energy sector to visit the Dangote refinery in Nigeria for technical engagements and further discussions.
Meanwhile, Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, said Uganda’s refinery plans remain commercially viable due to the country’s high-quality crude oil reserves and growing regional demand for petroleum products.
She added that government would continue engaging stakeholders on both Uganda’s national refinery project and broader regional energy cooperation initiatives.
The proposed regional refinery is expected to complement existing infrastructure projects such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which will transport crude oil from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga in Tanzania.
