The newly appointed Cabinet of Uganda has undertaken a tour of key oil and gas and infrastructure projects in the Albertine Graben as part of its induction retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.

The delegation was led by Vice President Jessica Alupo and included Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and other Cabinet Ministers.

According to the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), the tour began with a visit to Hoima City Stadium, the 20,000-seat multi-purpose facility commissioned in December 2025 and expected to host matches during the AFCON 2027 tournament.

The Cabinet later proceeded to the Kingfisher Development Area in Buliisa District, where they were received by CNOOC Uganda Limited President Liu Xiangdong, Petroleum Authority of Uganda Executive Director Ernest Rubondo, and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Permanent Secretary Irene Bateebe.

At the Kingfisher Oil Field, Cabinet members received updates on progress towards Uganda's first oil production. Kingfisher is one of Uganda's two upstream oil and gas development projects and is expected to produce up to 40,000 barrels of oil per day at peak production.

Officials informed the delegation that eight of the 22 drilled wells have already been completed and are ready for production. The ministers also toured the Central Processing Facility (CPF), where crude oil will be processed before being transported through the Kingfisher feeder pipeline into the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

Speaking during the visit, Vice President Jessica Alupo reaffirmed the Government's commitment to supporting the successful implementation of Uganda's oil and gas projects by ensuring a conducive environment for both construction and future production activities.

The delegation also visited EACOP Pump Station 1 in Hoima. The facility is the starting point of the 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline that will transport Uganda's crude oil to the export terminal in Tanga, Tanzania.

EACOP said the visit provided Cabinet Ministers with firsthand insight into the progress of the pipeline project and its contribution to Uganda's oil and gas development.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said she was impressed by the progress of the projects and noted that they are already having a substantial impact on Uganda's economy. She encouraged Ugandans to take advantage of opportunities created by the investments to generate wealth and contribute to socioeconomic transformation.

Minister Alice Kaboyo, who also participated in the tour, said the visit enabled Cabinet members to assess Uganda's preparedness for AFCON 2027 and review developments in the oil and gas sector. She noted that the sector is expected to generate revenues that will support government investments in critical infrastructure, including roads, energy, health and education.

Samantha Muhwezi, Chief Operating Officer of Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), said the Cabinet visit provided an opportunity to showcase the value created by the country's oil sector, adding that 70 percent of Uganda's foreign direct investment comes from oil projects.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development described the visit as part of the induction programme for the new Cabinet serving the 2026–2031 term and reiterated that 2026 marks Uganda's year of First Oil.

The tour concluded with a visit to Kabalega International Airport, a key infrastructure project supporting Uganda's oil and gas developments and regional connectivity.

CNOOC Uganda said the Cabinet delegation also received updates on project readiness, national content initiatives and community development programmes, noting that major infrastructure is complete and commissioning activities are ongoing as the Kingfisher project advances towards production.