From Wells To Wealth: Energy Minister Musenero Reveals Key Oil & Gas Sustainable Milestones Ahead Of First Oil

KAMPALA, UGANDA — As Uganda moves closer to commercial petroleum production, government officials, industry leaders, and civil society representatives gathered at the Mestil Hotel in Kampala for the Fourth Annual Conference with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Working in Uganda's Oil and Gas Sector.

Held under the theme “Advancing Sustainability in Uganda's Oil and Gas Sector: Progress, Lessons, and Look Ahead,” the dialogue brought together key actors, including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), licensed operators like TotalEnergies EP Uganda and CNOOC Uganda Limited, CSOs and regional infrastructure partners such as EACOP Limited among others.

Stocktaking Sector Progress:

Delivering the opening address, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, highlighted that since commercial petroleum deposits were discovered in 2006, Uganda has attracted over US$14 billion in investments.

The sector has driven substantial employment and local participation including: supporting more than 22,000 direct jobs and over 200,000 indirect and induced jobs as indicated by PAU data with 22,234 total workers by June 2026, 85% of whom being Ugandans. 

Ugandan enterprises have secured contracts valued at approximately US$2.3 billion out of USD 7.6 billion in cumulative Tier-One awards.

Also by September 2026, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) reached 92.7% completion, while the Tilenga Project had drilled 277 wells. Together, Tilenga and Kingfisher are designed to hit a combined peak production of 230,000 barrels per day.

Translating Finite Resources into Enduring National Wealth:

Hon. Dr. Musenero emphasised that while reaching First Oil is a critical milestone, Uganda’s ultimate measure of success lies in converting finite petroleum revenues and technical knowledge into permanent industrial capabilities and broad-based socio-economic transformation.

“The existence of oil does not automatically translate into national wealth,” stated Hon. Dr. Musenero. “Our ambition must go beyond counting the number of Ugandans employed or contracts awarded to local companies. The true measure of national content is how much more capable Uganda becomes through participation in the petroleum sector. The wells may be located in one part of the country, but the wealth must benefit the entire nation.”

The Regulatory and Sustainability Imperative:

Acting Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Michael Otonga Ochan, emphasized that as the country transitions from exploration and infrastructure build-out into production, regulatory oversight will tighten. 

He stressed that sustainability must span three core pillars such as: Maximizing long-term value through local content, technology transfer, and economic diversification, Protecting biodiversity, water resources, and ecosystems while safeguarding the rights and livelihood restoration of project-affected communities, Maintaining transparency and constructive engagement between the state, operators, and civil society among others.

Ochan also pointed to broader national indicators, noting that Uganda’s SDG Index moved from 51.5 in 2015 to 55.84 in 2025, underscoring the need for petroleum revenues to accelerate broader human development goals.

The Role of Civil Society: 

Both government and regulatory leaders acknowledged the pivotal role played by CSOs and NGOs in conducting policy research, community sensitization, independent monitoring, and human rights advocacy. 

While urging civil society to anchor its advocacy in credible evidence and constructive dialogue, officials reaffirmed that mutual transparency is vital to ensuring Uganda's finite petroleum wealth translates into enduring national assets.

The conference featured keynote insights from international energy law and sustainable development scholars, setting the stage for a collaborative communiqué aimed at shaping the next chapter of Uganda's petroleum journey.