Uganda has officially named its crude oil “Pearl Sweet Petroleum”, as the country moves closer to its long-awaited first commercial oil production.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni unveiled the name on September 2, 2026, during a visit to the Kingfisher Oilfield in Kikuube District, where the Central Processing Facility has reached mechanical completion.
The name “Pearl Sweet” reflects both Uganda’s identity as the “Pearl of Africa” and the crude’s low sulphur content, which makes it comparatively cheaper to refine. The Kingfisher project is designed to produce about 40,000 barrels per day, with first oil expected by the end of September.
The government says the oil sector will be used to drive industrialisation and long-term economic development rather than fund consumption. Associated gas from Kingfisher will not be flared; instead, it is expected to generate up to 80 megawatts of electricity and support LPG production for cooking.
Uganda’s planned refinery also remains a priority, with President Museveni arguing that domestic refining could reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products and associated transport and transit costs.
Meanwhile, the 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to Tanzania’s Tanga Port is reported to be 92.7% complete. The Kingfisher project itself is about 80% complete, with first-oil readiness at 98%.
The milestone marks a major transition for Uganda’s petroleum industry—from decades of exploration and preparation toward actual production and commercialisation.
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