Vivo Energy Uganda has commissioned a new Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) filling and storage plant in Mbale City, strengthening access to clean, safe, and reliable cooking energy across Eastern Uganda.
The facility was officially commissioned by Mbale City Deputy Mayor Harriet Kakayi alongside Hans Paulsen, Executive Vice President (East) at Vivo Energy Group, underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to supporting Uganda’s transition to cleaner energy solutions through strategic infrastructure investment.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Kakayi welcomed the development, noting that it aligns with Mbale City’s sustainable urban development goals.
“We warmly welcome this investment by Vivo Energy Uganda. It is timely and strongly aligned with Mbale City’s vision for sustainable urban development. Expanding access to clean energy such as LPG is critical to protecting our environment, improving household welfare, and creating economic opportunities for our people,” she said.
The Mbale LPG plant will serve as the main filling, storage, and distribution hub for Shell Gas in Eastern Uganda, improving the availability, affordability, and safety of LPG for households, businesses, educational institutions, and refugee-hosting communities.
Located at Vivo Energy Uganda’s Mbale depot, the facility will supply multiple districts across the eastern region, strengthening the company’s national LPG distribution network and promoting more equitable access to clean cooking solutions.
Commenting on the broader significance of the investment, Paulsen said the plant reflects Vivo Energy’s wider commitment to clean energy infrastructure across Africa.
“Expanding access to LPG is central to addressing energy poverty, reducing indoor air pollution, and supporting Uganda’s climate and development objectives. This facility is a critical step in bringing clean, safe, and affordable cooking solutions closer to communities in Eastern Uganda,” he said.
Paulsen added that the project directly supports the Government of Uganda’s clean energy agenda under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, which seeks to reduce reliance on traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal.
Uganda’s LPG uptake remains low, with household penetration estimated at about four percent and per capita consumption below one kilogram per year, significantly lower than regional peers such as Kenya, where LPG penetration is estimated at around seven percent. The disparity highlights the need for accelerated investment and policy support to scale adoption.
Vivo Energy Uganda Managing Director Joanita Mukasa Menya said the Mbale facility would deliver both energy and economic benefits.
“This plant is more than a commercial facility. It is a practical enabler of clean cooking adoption, a source of employment for Mbale residents, and a strategic infrastructure investment for the nation,” she said.
Menya noted that the plant is expected to create jobs, support skills development, and stimulate local supply chains in Mbale City and the wider Eastern region. Increased LPG use, she added, will contribute to improved health outcomes, reduced indoor air pollution, and lower environmental degradation associated with traditional cooking fuels.
The facility also enhances Uganda’s energy resilience and balanced regional development as the country prepares for first oil production from the Albertine Graben, expected to commence in July 2026. The plant positions LPG as a key component of a modern and sustainable gas economy by increasing market readiness and consumer awareness.
Through this investment, Vivo Energy Uganda continues to strengthen its collaboration with the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) to expand LPG infrastructure nationwide.
