Uganda Pushes Back First Oil Production Target to June 2027

Uganda's long-awaited first commercial oil production is now expected to start in June 2027, after the government revised its timeline for the third time. The latest update was provided during a meeting of Parliament's Finance Committee, where officials from various oil-related ministries and agencies confirmed that progress has been made on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

The committee was told that 1,414 kilometers of the EACOP pipeline had been completed, with most associated facilities nearing completion. However, pump stations three and four, as well as electrical installations, instrumentation, telecommunications, ICT, and security systems, are still outstanding.

Despite repeated assurances from government officials that first oil would be achieved in 2026, the new timeline has raised fresh questions about a project whose delivery dates have shifted repeatedly over the past two decades. The Auditor General's report also indicated that the government had set November 2025 as the date for the first oil export through Tanga Port.

The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) reported substantial progress on EACOP, with officials explaining that the outstanding works are expected to be completed by early December, allowing the pipeline to receive crude by mid-December 2026. The update prompted MP Patrick Oshabe Nsamba to demand greater precision from government, arguing that Ugandans should be told the actual month when oil production will begin.