Hoima
As Uganda moves closer to achieving its first oil drop in July 2026, preparations are in high gear for the development of the Kabaleega Industrial Park in Kabaale Sub-county, Hoima District, with construction scheduled to begin in January next year.
The industrial park, a key component of Uganda’s oil and gas value chain, will sit on a 29.57 square kilometre piece of land acquired by the government in 2014.
It will host the Uganda Refinery, Kabaleega International Airport the country’s second international airport and anchor industries including polymer production, fertilisers, mixed industries, agro-processing, warehousing, and logistics.
According to Ms Proscovia Nabbanja, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), the development of Kabaleega Industrial Park will cost slightly below USD 390 million, to be implemented in two phases.
The CEO revealed that construction works on the 98 kilometres of access roads have already begun, with 11 kilometres opened so far to facilitate investor access to the site.
Ms Nabbanja added that UNOC has already attracted 31 investors across various industrial segments, including petrochemical, agro-based, logistics, warehousing, and data centre industries. Once operational, the park is expected to create approximately 35,000 jobs.
During a recent tour of the oil and gas project areas, Ms Irene Batebe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, confirmed that all Project Affected Persons (PAPs) for the industrial park have been fully compensated, and the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) was successfully implemented.
She also commended the progress made at the Kingfisher Oil Development Area in Kyangwali sub-county, Kikuube district, where three of the four well pads are already complete, alongside significant advancement on the Central Processing Facility (CPF).
The Head of Public Service, Ms Lucy Nakyobe, who led the delegation, praised the Ministry of Energy and its partners for their dedication, expressing optimism that the nation will soon witness the long-awaited first oil production.
The delegation’s field visit covered key oil and gas infrastructure sites, including the Kingfisher Oil Development Area, Kabaleega Industrial Park, Kabaleega International Airport, and Luweero Industries.
