Hoima City's Economy Booms as Oil and Gas Projects Advance

Hoima city's commerce is booming thanks to the development of upstream oil and gas projects in the Albertine Graben. The Tilenga and Kingfisher projects have made significant progress, achieving overall completion rates of over 50% and remaining on track for First Oil Production.

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a 1,443 km heat-traced pipeline, is being built to transport Uganda's crude oil to the international market via the port of Tanga, Tanzania. This has led to an increase in small and medium-sized businesses serving commercial oil activities.

However, Hoima authorities say the proprietors of these businesses need skilling to enable them to exploit the opportunities around them. To address this, the MSME Accelerator Programme was held on May 8, 2025, which aimed at accelerating the growth and impact of over 2,820 MSMEs through business training, mentorship, and access to affordable finance.

The programme, a partnership between Opportunity Bank Uganda Ltd and the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, attracted over 360 small businesses in various sectors such as manufacturing, oil and gas, and services across Hoima. They were trained in proper business management and regulation, as well as opened their access to finance for their enterprises.