Shaping Uganda’s Energy Future: 4th Annual Joint CSO Conference to Set Sights on Sustainability Ahead of First Oil

Kampala, Uganda — As Uganda stands on the brink of achieving First Oil, over 300 key stakeholders—including government officials, licensed oil companies, civil society leaders, academics, and host communities—will convene on November 11, 2026, at the Mestil Hotel in Kampala for the 4th Annual Joint CSO Conference on Oil and Gas.

Hosted jointly by the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), the Civil Society Coalition on Oil and Gas (CSCO), and industry partners, the event centers on the theme: “Advancing Sustainability in Uganda's Oil and Gas Sector: Progress, Lessons, and Look Ahead.”

Taking Stock of Major Milestones:

The one-day summit arrives at a pivotal moment for Uganda’s Albertine Graben developments. Major infrastructure projects—including Tilenga, Kingfisher, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), and refinery-related initiatives—have accelerated the country's transition from exploration to active production.

According to sector figures, the upstream and midstream developments have already catalyzed:

·       Over USD 12.3 billion in total investments

·       More than 22,000 direct jobs created

·       Support for 200,000+ indirect and induced jobs

·       Roughly USD 2.3 billion in contracts awarded to Ugandan-owned and local enterprises

Putting People and Planet First:

While financial and infrastructural metrics show rapid expansion, conference organizers emphasize that long-term viability requires balancing economic gains with environmental stewardship and social inclusion.

"As Uganda prepares for production, sustainability must remain at the centre of all petroleum sector activities," noted Ms. Gloria Sebikari, Manager Corporate Affairs at the PAU. "This conference provides an important opportunity for government, industry and civil society to reflect on the progress made, openly discuss lessons learned, and collectively identify actions that will ensure long-term value creation for Ugandans."

Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Bashir Twesigye, Chairperson of CSCO, highlighted the evolving role of civil society in shaping governance:

"The Annual Joint CSO Conference has become a credible platform for dialogue and engagement. We have seen increasing collaboration among stakeholders over the years, and we look forward to building on that momentum as we shape a sustainable future for Uganda’s oil and gas sector."

The program will feature multi-stakeholder panel discussions and high-level keynote presentations addressing:

·       Petroleum Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa: Featuring a headline address by Prof. Damilola Olawuyi, Professor and UNESCO Chair on Environment Law and Sustainable Development at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).

·       Climate resilience and environmental protection in host communities.

·       Local content expansion, youth participation, and economic empowerment.

·       Accountability frameworks as projects shift from construction to operational phases.

The conference is expected to close with a unified set of actionable recommendations and commitments from state, corporate, and civil society participants to ensure Uganda's petroleum wealth translates into broad-based, intergenerational prosperity.