Uganda’s long-awaited oil story is entering a new chapter, and it now has a name following President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni naming Uganda’s crude oil “Pearl Sweet” as the Kingfisher oilfield in Kikuube district moves into the final stages before production.
President Museveni announced the name during a visit to the Kingfisher Oilfield in Buhuka on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026, where the Central Processing Facility (CPF) has reached mechanical completion, marking a major step towards Uganda’s first commercial oil production.
“We are here to celebrate and give this baby (oil) a name. These people have told me to name this baby Pearl Sweet Petroleum. We call it sweet because it does not have sulphur. When it has sulphur, it is more expensive to remove the sulphur. This one either has little or no sulphur,” Museveni said.
The name combines Uganda’s identity as the Pearl of Africa with the low sulphur content of its crude, which makes it cheaper to refine.
However, the President said Uganda’s oil should be viewed as more than a commodity for export, arguing that petroleum revenues should help drive industrialisation and build long-term assets for future generations.
“The petroleum industry would push us very far. So, what is happening here is not a joke. It will have a lot of implications,” he said, pointing to the planned refinery and its potential to produce fuel for vehicles, aviation fuel and other petroleum products.
First oil in sight
According to the Energy and Mineral Development Permanent Secretary, Eng. Pauline Irene Batebe, the Kingfisher project is about 80 percent complete, while first-oil readiness stands at 98 percent
She noted that the commissioning tests were underway and the first oil was expected by the end of September.
“Its Central Processing Facility has reached mechanical completion and is built to handle 40,000 barrels a day,” Batebe noted.
The project has 22 of its planned 31 wells ready, with some extending more than seven kilometres underground. The wells are at different stages of completion and perforation, while pumping and flowback activities continue.
The Kingfisher project is designed to produce approximately 40,000 barrels of oil per day.
Batebe said the pipeline was 92.7 percent complete, and that the crude will be transported through a 47-kilometre feeder pipeline before joining the 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to Tanga Port in Tanzania.
Uganda’s crude is waxy and solidifies at normal temperatures, meaning the pipeline will be heated along its entire length to keep the crude flowing.
Gas to generate power
Museveni also said Uganda would not flare associated gas from the Kingfisher field, but instead use it to generate electricity and produce Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for cooking.
“Here, we said no to flaring gas. We shall be using the gas to generate electricity, up to 80 megawatts at Kingfisher alone,” he said.
He added that the planned 80-megawatt generation capacity could be equivalent to about half the output of Nalubaale Power Station and generate approximately $30 million annually for the project.
“The other gas will be condensed and turned into liquified petroleum gas for cooking,” the President added.
Refinery remains a priority
The President maintained that Uganda’s planned oil refinery remains central to the country’s petroleum strategy despite the development of EACOP.
He said refining crude locally would reduce the cost of petroleum products by avoiding some of the transportation and transit costs associated with imports.
“Our refinery will be one of the most profitable because, first of all, it’s far from the ocean and it does not have the transportation cost which imported oil has. When we refine our oil here, you don’t pay transit charges,” he noted.
Museveni stated that Uganda would save significantly by refining some of its crude domestically.
“When we pump our crude to Tanga, we pay $12.77 per barrel just for transport. When we refine our oil here, we don’t pay that money. We shall no longer spend $2 billion importing petroleum. You can export some of the crude, but the refinery must get priority. That is what is in our agreement,” he stated.
The President also warned against using oil revenues for consumption and luxury imports, saying the money should instead be invested in infrastructure and other assets that can benefit future generations.
“The money will be used to do durable things, to build power stations, build the railway and and other things which will be there for the grandchildren,” Museveni noted.
Oil partnership and development
The Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Wu Guangrong, reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Uganda in oil and gas, trade, infrastructure and investment.
He said the partnership should go beyond resource extraction to include skills development, employment, local content and industrial development.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said Uganda’s oil programme had already contributed to development in the Bunyoro sub-region, citing the construction of Kabalega International Airport, Kabalega Industrial Park, more than 500 kilometres of tarmacked roads and upgraded health facilities.
She described President Museveni’s visit to Kingfisher as an opportunity to assess progress on a vision that dates back decades, recalling his decision after coming to power in 1986 to send young Ugandans abroad to acquire expertise in the petroleum sector.
The Energy and Mineral Development Minister, Dr. Monica Musenero said the name “Pearl Sweet” reflected both Uganda’s identity and the characteristics of its crude.
“For many years, petroleum in Uganda was an aspiration; something discovered, studied, debated and planned for. Today, that resource is being translated into productive assets, infrastructure, skills, businesses and, very soon, commercial production. This moment is therefore a testament to the importance of your vision, persistence and strategic leadership,” Musenero said.
CNOOC: ‘We can see how far this project has come’
The CNOOC Uganda Limited President, Liu Xiangdong said the progress at Kingfisher reflected years of investment, cooperation and government support.
“Your Excellency, when we look around Kingfisher today, we can see how far this project has come. What we see here is the result of many years of hard work, partnership and commitment. It is also a reflection of the support and guidance we have received from the Government of Uganda. Our objective is simple: to develop the resource while living in harmony with the environment and the communities around us,” Xiangdong said.
According to Xiangdong, the Kingfisher development also reflects the growing partnership between Uganda and China through investment, technology and expertise.
“CNOOC Uganda Limited remains committed to working with the Government of Uganda, its partners and the communities around Kingfisher to deliver a safe, responsible and sustainable development that creates lasting value for Uganda,” he noted.
From discovery to production
President Museveni has consistently called for Uganda’s petroleum resources to be developed responsibly, with the benefits extending to Ugandans while protecting the environment.
During the launch of drilling operations at Kingfisher in January 2023, he urged communities in the oil-producing areas to take advantage of opportunities created by the sector while continuing to invest in agriculture and other productive activities.
The Kingfisher Development Area comprises the CPF, four well pads, camps, a supply base and a 47-kilometre feeder pipeline.
At the CPF, crude oil, water, gas and waste will be separated. Water will be reinjected into the reservoir, waste transferred for treatment, while associated gas will be used for power generation and LPG production.
Museveni also called for greater promotion of tourism in the Albertine region, citing its landscapes, favourable weather and historical sites.
He thanked CNOOC and TotalEnergies for their contribution to Uganda’s petroleum development and urged the other partners to accelerate their work.
“I want to thank CNOOC here because they have moved very fast. I want the others to also work very fast,” the President said.
With the Kingfisher facility now mechanically complete and commissioning underway, Uganda is moving from years of exploration and development towards the production of its first commercial barrels, with the country’s crude now carrying a name of its own: Pearl Sweet.
