At another Ugandan oil field – still close to Lake Albert but 100km north-east of Kingfisher – dozens of earthmovers criss-cross a construction site for TotalEnergies’ processing facility. This is where the crude oil will be cleaned of impurities and separated from gas before being pumped to a refinery about 100km away.
Why is Uganda betting a lot on Nigeria’s oil?
And while acknowledging the fact that the oil lies in a sensitive ecological zone, Ms Nabbanja says efforts are being made to reduce the environmental impact. The environmental damage that oil has caused in Nigeria serves as a warning and Uganda is wagering a lot on its oil.
Will a new road make Uganda a greener country?
In addition, facilities like a newly tarmacked road will make it easier for fishermen to transport their catch to market, and refinery by-products such as fertiliser, might improve productive sectors like agriculture. But there is a bigger question about whether Uganda as a country will benefit as richer economies shift to greener energy.
Can local people take advantage of job opportunities in Uganda?
There are hopes that local people can take advantage of the job opportunities. According to the legislation that established the oil sector, 16 employment areas, including hospitality, information technology and security, have been ring-fenced for Ugandans.