Uganda Finalizes Major Crude Oil Refinery Deal with Dubai Royal Family Investment Firm
Uganda has secured a transformative partnership with Alpha MBM Investments, led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum of Dubai’s royal family, to construct a multi-product crude oil refinery in Kabaale, Hoima District, marking a pivotal step toward energy independence.
President Yoweri Museveni emphasized the project’s strategic importance, highlighting Uganda’s shift from crude oil exports to value-added petroleum product refining and export. The Uganda National Oil Corporation (UNOC) formalized commercial agreements with Alpha MBM in mid-August after a previous consortium withdrew from negotiations.
Alpha MBM will hold the majority stake while UNOC retains remaining shares in the venture, which will be financed through combined debt and equity. Construction is expected to commence soon, with operations projected within a few years.
The ambitious Greenfield Oil Refinery project includes a multi-product pipeline connecting Uganda’s second-largest city to a distribution terminal in Namwabula, Mpigi District, plus a raw water pipeline from Lake Albert. Once operational, the facility aims to meet domestic demand and generate exportable surplus for African markets.
The development parallels progress on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project, now in its final phase, with construction underway on the section linking Waiga River to Kabalega Industrial Park in Hoima.
Source: angolanminingoilandgas.com
