UGANDA’S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS AFTER 2026 COMMERCIAL OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION
UGANDA’S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS AFTER 2026 COMMERCIAL OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION Opportunities, Risks and the Future of National Transformation By David Maclaren Kiiza Introduction Uganda stands at one of the most important turning points in its modern economic history. After decades of oil exploration, infrastructure planning, and international negotiations, the country is preparing for commercial oil and gas production beginning in 2026. The launch of oil exports through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline is expected to transform Uganda’s economy, attract billions in investment, and accelerate industrial development. For many Ugandans, oil represents hope for improved infrastructure, jobs, industrialization, and increased government revenue. Economists project that Uganda’s GDP growth could rise sharply after first oil production, with some forecasts expecting double-digit growth during the initial years of oil exports. However, history from other oil-producing nations shows that...