BY Joseph Kiggundu
Dar es Salaam
Senior energy sector leaders from Uganda and Tanzania today held a high-level stakeholder meeting at the Tanzania Ministry of Energy in Dar es Salaam to review progress and coordinate final preparations for Uganda’s first oil under the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Project.
The meeting brought together a Ugandan delegation led by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa, alongside senior government officials and executives from key institutions involved in the project. Among them were Eng. Geoffrey Ogwang, Acting Commissioner for the Midstream Department; Eng. Herbert Mugizi, Acting Commissioner and EACOP Project Coordinator; Mr. Mathias Katamba, Board Chairman of the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC); Ms. Zulaika Mirembe Kasaija, Board Chair of the National Pipeline Company (NPC); Mr. John Bosco Habomugisha, Deputy Managing Director of EACOP; and Mr. Tony Otoa, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of UNOC.
On the Tanzanian side, the meeting was hosted by the Minister for Energy, Hon. Deogratius Ndejembi, and attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Energy, the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), and the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA).
Participants received an update on the overall status of the EACOP Project, which had reached 79 per cent completion by the end of December 2025. The review covered progress on the pipeline, above-ground installations, marine terminal facilities in Tanga, and other supporting infrastructure. Construction activities were reported to be at peak levels and on track to achieve readiness for start-up by 31 July 2026, with first oil export expected in October 2026.
Welcoming the Ugandan delegation, Hon. Ndejembi reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to the timely and successful delivery of EACOP, describing it as a flagship regional integration project. He highlighted Tanzania’s continued support through land access facilitation, regulatory approvals, and financing arrangements to ensure smooth implementation.
In her remarks, Hon. Dr. Nankabirwa congratulated Tanzania on the successful conduct of recent elections and conveyed appreciation to H.E. the President of the United Republic of Tanzania for unwavering support to the project. She acknowledged that while EACOP has faced criticism, strong political leadership and close cooperation between the two countries have been essential in maintaining momentum.
The Ugandan minister noted that, beyond receiving regular technical and management reports, her visit was aimed at personally assessing progress on the ground. She emphasized the strategic importance of EACOP in transporting Uganda’s crude oil to international markets and in strengthening regional energy trade.
Hon. Dr. Nankabirwa also invited Hon. Ndejembi to make a reciprocal visit to Uganda to observe progress at key facilities, including Pump Station One, as a further sign of the strong partnership between the two countries. She added that Tanzania will host Uganda and other partners later this year for the commissioning of the project, marking a major milestone in the EACOP journey.
As a symbol of the strong bilateral ties, the Tanzanian Minister for Energy presented a goodwill gift to his Ugandan counterpart, underscoring the shared commitment to the successful completion of the project.
Beyond infrastructure delivery, the meeting highlighted the broader socio-economic impact of EACOP. Leaders noted that the project is expected to create employment for thousands of people, stimulate skills development, and enhance local participation once associated infrastructure, including the refinery, becomes fully operational. Both sides stressed the importance of preparing citizens with the relevant skills to participate meaningfully in the oil and gas value chain.
The meeting concluded with a joint reaffirmation by both governments and EACOP partners to deliver the remaining works safely, sustainably, and on schedule, in the spirit of regional cooperation and shared benefit.