Uganda to Launch Third Oil Licensing Round as It Prepares for First Crude Production
Uganda is preparing to launch a new oil exploration licensing round in the next financial year, as it moves closer to starting commercial crude production and seeks to expand its resource base.
Speaking at a petroleum conference, Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa confirmed that the country will open its third petroleum licensing round in the financial year beginning in July.
The round will include new exploration blocks in the Albertine Graben as well as other frontier basins.
Uganda last held a licensing round in 2019, offering five blocks and concluding the process in 2023.
The upcoming round is expected to build on that effort by attracting fresh investment and accelerating exploration activity.
The country currently holds an estimated 6.5 billion barrels of oil reserves, all located in the Albertine Graben along its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, the energy ministry notes that only about 40% of the region has been explored, leaving significant untapped potential.
In addition to the Albertine region, the government has initiated early-stage exploration surveys in the Moroto-Kadam and Kyoga basins in northern and northeastern Uganda.
Uganda’s existing oil developments are jointly operated by TotalEnergies and CNOOC in partnership with the state-owned Uganda National Oil Company.
As Uganda prepares for its first oil production, the new licensing round is expected to play a key role in sustaining long-term output growth and strengthening the country’s position as an emerging oil producer.
