Dr Ruth Nankabirwa (2nd Left), Deogratius Ndejembi, Tanzania’s Minister for Energy, among other Tanzanian officials in oil discussions held recently recently
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The Governments of Uganda and Tanzania have reaffirmed their commitment to the timely completion of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) following a high-level stakeholder meeting held on Monday at the Ministry of Energy headquarters in Dar es Salaam.
The meeting reviewed progress on the landmark cross-border infrastructure project as preparations continue for a joint site tour by leaders from both countries. Uganda’s delegation was led by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr Ruth Nankabirwa, and comprised senior government and industry officials closely involved in the project’s implementation.
Among the Ugandan officials present were Eng Geoffrey Ogwang, the Acting Commissioner for the Midstream Department; Eng Herbert Mugizi, Acting Commissioner and EACOP Project Coordinator; Mathias Katamba, Board Chairman of the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC); Zulaika Mirembe Kasaija, Board Chair of the National Pipeline Company (NPC); John Bosco Habomugisha, Deputy Managing Director of EACOP; and Tony Otoa, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at UNOC.
They were hosted by Tanzania’s Minister for Energy, Deogratius Ndejembi, together with senior officials from the Tanzanian Ministry of Energy and key institutions in the sector.
During the engagement, officials reviewed the overall status of the EACOP project, which had reached 79 percent completion by the end of December 2025. Both sides reaffirmed their shared objective of achieving readiness for start-up by July 31, 2026, with first crude oil exports projected for October 2026.
In her remarks, Dr Nankabirwa congratulated Tanzania on the successful conclusion of its recent elections and conveyed appreciation to the Tanzanian President for continued political and institutional support for the pipeline. She emphasised the strategic importance of EACOP in enabling Uganda’s crude oil to access international markets through the Tanzanian coast.
The minister also highlighted the broader socio-economic impact of the project, pointing to job creation, skills transfer and capacity building for local communities and national institutions in both countries. She noted that the pipeline represents not only an energy infrastructure investment but also a catalyst for shared economic growth.
Dr Nankabirwa invited her Tanzanian counterpart to visit Uganda to inspect key facilities along the pipeline route, including Pump Station One, one of the critical installations supporting crude oil transportation. She underscored the importance of leaders from both countries assessing progress on the ground, saying the planned joint site tour would offer a clearer picture of construction milestones and overall readiness.
The meeting concluded with both governments reiterating their determination to deliver the project within the agreed timelines, underscoring continued coordination and cooperation.
In a symbolic gesture reflecting the strong partnership between the two countries, Tanzania’s Minister for Energy presented a goodwill gift to Dr Nankabirwa at the close of the meeting, reaffirming the shared commitment to the successful delivery of the landmark regional project.
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