KAMPALA — Uganda has moved closer to its first commercial oil exports after the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) appointed global energy trader Vitol to market the country’s crude oil, Pearl Sweet.
The deal is part of preparations to connect Uganda’s crude to international buyers as the country targets the start of oil exports in early 2027.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officially named Uganda’s crude Pearl Sweet on September 2, 2026. The crude will come from the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects in the Albertine region.
The two projects are expected to reach a combined production capacity of up to 230,000 barrels per day when operating at full capacity.
Vitol to find buyers
Under the agreement, Vitol will use its international trading and logistics network to market Uganda’s crude and connect it with potential buyers and refineries.
Energy and Mineral Development Minister Dr Monica Musenero said the appointment shows that Uganda is moving from developing its petroleum industry towards commercialisation.
She said Vitol’s global reach and experience in crude oil trading will help Uganda identify suitable markets and maximise the value of Pearl Sweet.
Vitol’s Head of Asia, Kieran Gallagher, welcomed the partnership and expressed confidence that Uganda’s crude will attract interest, particularly from refiners in Asian markets.
EACOP key to exports
Uganda’s crude will be transported from the Albertine region through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to Tanga Port in Tanzania, where it will be loaded onto tankers for international markets.
The appointment of Vitol adds a major commercial component to Uganda’s preparations for first oil, alongside the development of production facilities, the pipeline and export infrastructure.
Vitol already has an established relationship with UNOC through cooperation in petroleum products supply and energy infrastructure development.
With Uganda targeting first exports in early 2027, the country is now putting the final commercial and logistical arrangements in place to take Pearl Sweet from the Albertine oil fields to the global market.
The development marks another significant milestone in Uganda’s long-awaited journey towards becoming an oil-producing and exporting country.
