The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has urged the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and oil sector players to strictly adhere to established guidelines as Uganda prepares to commence commercial oil drilling, warning that any lapses could undermine community welfare and national benefits.
Mayiga made the remarks during a meeting at Bulange Mengo with the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, who led officials from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda and the Uganda National Oil Company to brief the Buganda Kingdom leadership on the status of the oil and gas sector.
Oil, Mayiga said, should not become a source of hardship for the people it is intended to uplift, stressing that proper procedures and safeguards must be followed to ensure the resource contributes meaningfully to national development.
He emphasized that accountability and community consideration would be critical as Uganda transitions into the production phase.
Minister Nankabirwa thanked the Buganda Kingdom for supporting the oil and gas project, noting that the sector has previously faced resistance from sections of the public.
She said technical assessments indicate that Uganda is on track to begin oil production before mid-2026, adding that 17 start-up wells have already been drilled.
According to the minister, government remains committed to transparency, regulatory compliance and increasing local participation in the sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of UNOC, Proscovia Nabbanja, told the meeting that construction of the crude oil refinery is expected to be completed before 2029, in line with existing plans.
She said recent assessments suggest Uganda’s oil reserves may be larger than initially estimated, which could expand employment opportunities for citizens as sector activities increase.
Nabbanja encouraged Ugandans to prepare for both skilled and unskilled jobs that will emerge as production and related infrastructure develop.
Commending progress in the oil sector, Mayiga called on Ugandan youth to actively prepare themselves to take advantage of upcoming opportunities, saying readiness would determine who benefits most from the industry.
He also urged political leaders, including presidential candidates, to support major national development projects, arguing that such initiatives transcend political competition and belong to all Ugandans.
During the meeting, Mayiga also raised concerns about persistent power outages, calling on the Ministry of Energy to prioritise Buganda, which he described as a critical driver of Uganda’s economy and resource base.
Energy sector officials pledged to return to Bulange Mengo to brief the kingdom leadership on other mineral resources that require policy attention and investment.
