Uganda’s National Petroleum Authority announced a rise in proven oil resources, with crude oil reserves increasing from 6.5 billion to 6.65 billion barrels and recoverable oil from 1.4 billion to 1.65 billion barrels.
ENTEBBE, Uganda – In a major announcement marking its tenth anniversary, Uganda's national petroleum regulator has reported a substantial increase in the country's proven oil resources. The National Oil Petroleum Authority revealed that estimated crude oil resources have risen from 6.5 billion to 6.65 billion barrels, with the critical figure of recoverable oil jumping from 1.4 billion to 1.65 billion barrels.
The increase is attributed to enhanced geological understanding and advanced data analysis of existing discoveries in the prolific Albertine Graben region.
The announcement was made by Mr Ernest Rubondo, the Director of the Petroleum Authority, during a press conference at its headquarters in Entebbe. Flanked by board members, Rubondo detailed the progress of the nation's flagship oil development projects: the Kingfisher and Tilenga oil fields, and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
Mr Rubondo provided a decisive update on the projects, underscoring their advancement towards first oil:
  Kingfisher Project: All 19 wells required for the first phase of production have been drilled.
  Tilenga Project: Drilling is well underway, with 164 of the required 170 wells already completed.
  East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP): Significant progress continues, with 1,443 kilometres of pipeline—the entire required length—delivered to Dar es Salaam last month.
Addressing a key pillar of the national strategy, Mr Rubondo emphasised the success of the local content program. He reported that out of $7 billion in contracts awarded so far, a substantial $2.2 billion has been awarded directly to Ugandan registered companies.
Furthermore, the projects have become a major engine for job creation, directly employing 20,000 Ugandans and supporting an additional 180,000 indirect employment opportunities.
In a move to secure the sector's long-term intellectual assets, the Authority also announced the establishment of a state-of-the-art database system. This dedicated repository will securely store all critical petroleum data, serving as a vital resource for future exploration and development.
The revised resource figures and concrete project milestones signal a strengthened and accelerating trajectory for Uganda's emerging oil and gas sector, bringing the nation closer to its long-awaited goal of becoming an oil-producing country.
