Kenya is planning to invest in Uganda’s oil refinery in a move that could deepen East Africa’s collaboration in the energy sector, President William Samoei Ruto revealed on Thursday during the Africa We Build Summit 2026 in Nairobi.
The announcement comes on the back of Uganda’s efforts to acquire a controlling stake in the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) following the government’s recent divestiture programme.
According to President Ruto, Africa produces approximately 10 million barrels of oil per day—equivalent to about 10% of global output—yet the continent remains a net importer of petroleum products.
He noted that East African nations are in discussions to develop a common oil refinery.
“President Yoweri Museveni called me and said, ‘I want to buy 50 per cent of Kenya Pipeline’… and he told me, ‘I don’t care about the price.’ That’s how serious he is. President Museveni could see beyond the price—he could see the opportunity. I want to assure you Kenya is going to invest in your refinery,” Ruto said.
Following the commitment by the two heads of state to undertake joint projects, businessman Aliko Dangote, who owns a private refinery in Nigeria, has pledged to build a similar facility in the region.
“There is nothing we cannot do in Africa. That’s why, as a group, we have now launched a plan to invest $40 billion in various fields between now and 2030. Even now, I can give a commitment to the two presidents here: if they support the refinery, we will build one identical to what we have in Nigeria,” he said.
The debate comes more than a decade after Kenya shut down its Changamwe Oil Refinery in 2013 due to outdated technology, inefficiency, and high production costs, which made it uncompetitive compared to imported refined products.
Despite the government’s expressed interest in Uganda’s refinery, the National Treasury says a decision on the scale of investment has yet to be made.
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