Uganda's oil and gas sector has attracted investments exceeding Shs57.4 trillion (US$14 billion), the Petroleum Authority of Uganda said, positioning the industry as a major contributor to economic activity, employment and opportunities for local businesses ahead of the start of commercial petroleum production.
The Acting Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Michael Otonga Ochan, disclosed the figures on November 11, 2026, during the Fourth Annual National Conference for Civil Society Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations working in Uganda's oil and gas sector in Kampala. The sector had employed 22,234 people as of June 30, 2026, with Ugandans accounting for 18,958 jobs, representing 85 per cent of the total workforce, Ochan said. Employment gains have been concentrated in engineering, construction, logistics, transportation, catering, security and support services. The cumulative value of approved Tier One contracts has reached US$7.6 billion (approximately Shs31.16 trillion), of which US$2.3 billion (about Shs9.43 trillion), representing 30 per cent, has been awarded to Ugandan companies, according to Ochan.
The investments have supported infrastructure development and opened business opportunities for Ugandan companies supplying goods and services to petroleum operators and contractors. Economic activity beyond the petroleum industry has also been stimulated, with construction, manufacturing, financial services, hospitality, transportation and other sectors benefiting from oil and gas operations. Ochan noted that more local businesses need to strengthen their technical capacity, financial resources and quality standards to compete for major industry contracts, and that the transition to commercial petroleum production would create additional opportunities for Ugandan enterprises capable of supplying specialised goods and services.
As Uganda moves closer to first oil, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda said its regulatory focus would increasingly shift towards ensuring safe and efficient petroleum operations, maximising resource recovery, protecting the environment and ensuring that petroleum revenues contribute meaningfully to national development. Ochan identified three interconnected priorities to guide sustainable sector development: economic sustainability through employment creation, skills development and infrastructure investment; environmental and social sustainability through biodiversity conservation, emissions management and livelihood restoration; and governance and accountability through effective regulation, transparency and responsible resource management.
For savers, borrowers, business owners and investors in Uganda, the oil sector's expansion could broaden economic opportunities through employment, infrastructure development and demand for goods and services, though local enterprises will need to increase technical capacity to capture major contracts.
Ochan called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, oil companies, civil society organisations and development partners. He reaffirmed the Petroleum Authority of Uganda's commitment to continued engagement with civil society, emphasising that Uganda's petroleum resources must deliver lasting value for present and future generations.