By Barbara Nwaiwu
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed holding talks with Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote over plans for a proposed regional oil refinery in East Africa as discussions around expanding refining capacity across the continent gather momentum.
Museveni disclosed this in a post published on his official X account on Sunday, following a meeting with Dangote in Nakasero, a commercial and administrative district in Kampala, Uganda.
The meeting comes amid growing discussions surrounding Dangote’s interest in developing another major refinery project in East Africa, similar to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery located on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria, which is regarded as the largest refinery in Africa.
According to Museveni, the discussions centred on a proposed East African regional refinery initiative aimed at strengthening local refining capacity and supporting regional economic integration.
The Ugandan president said Uganda had consistently opposed exporting raw materials without local industrial processing and value addition, explaining that the country delayed crude oil production for years because it prioritised establishing refining infrastructure.
“That is why Uganda delayed oil production because we insisted on first having a refinery. Without refining our oil, it would not make economic or strategic sense to simply export crude oil while others benefit from the finished products,” Museveni said.
He added that Uganda welcomed the idea of a larger regional refinery because it aligns with the country’s broader vision of African integration and shared prosperity.
“We cannot continue operating as fragmented and weak markets. If East Africa works together, such projects become more viable and beneficial to our people,” he stated.
Museveni further disclosed that Uganda would continue developing its domestic refinery project in Hoima while supporting the proposed regional initiative.
“Uganda is ready to support the regional refinery initiative while also continuing with the development of our own refinery in Hoima,” he said.
Earlier discussions around the project had emerged during a panel session involving Museveni, Kenyan President William Ruto and Dangote, where the Nigerian businessman pledged to lead the development of a regional refinery expected to serve multiple East African markets.
“We are discussing that we are going to have a joint refinery in Tanga to benefit all of us. My commitment today here is that we will lead the refinery. We’ll make sure that that refinery is built within the next four to five years,” Dangote said.
Initial reports indicated that the refinery could be located in Tanga and process crude oil from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, although later reports suggested Kenya was also being considered as a possible host location.
Museveni, however, did not disclose whether Uganda was under consideration as the final site for the refinery.
