Dangote Secures Uganda’s Support for East African Refinery Ambition

By Adedapo Adesanya

Dangote’s East African refinery plan gained momentum as Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni threw his support behind the proposed project following talks with Mr Aliko Dangote.

In a tweet posted on X (formerly Twitter) on May 17, 2026, the Ugandan President announced that he had met with the Nigerian billionaire at Nakasero, and revealed that the meeting centred around the development of a proposed 650,000 barrels per day regional oil refinery in East Africa.

Mr Museveni emphasised adding value by refining oil locally rather than exporting crude, to maximise economic and strategic benefits for the region.

He called for greater regional cooperation and market integration in East Africa, highlighting the importance of large-scale projects for shared prosperity.

Business Post has earlier reported that Kenya has been positioned as the central player following Tanzania’s recent denial of its support of the project.

Mr Dangote said the East African country was his preferred choice due to its established fuel logistics network and port infrastructure serving several neighbouring countries.

In the latest development, the Ugandan president explained that his primary focus remains on value addition.

He detailed why Uganda has historically refrained from exporting raw crude oil, arguing that doing so allows foreign entities to exploit the country’s natural resources and reap the financial rewards of refined products.

“Without refining our oil, it would not make economic or strategic sense to simply export crude oil while others benefit from the finished products,” Mr Museveni stated.

The president expressed strong support for a larger regional refinery, describing it as a crucial step toward “African integration and shared prosperity.”

He further emphasised that East African nations must move past an individualistic mindset and overcome fragmented markets, urging regional cooperation to execute large-scale projects that benefit the entire populace.

“We cannot continue operating in fragmented and weak markets,” Mr Museveni wrote. “If East Africa works together, such projects become more viable and beneficial to our people.”

“Uganda is ready to support the regional refinery initiative while also continuing with the development of our own refinery in Hoima,” he added.