The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has expressed support for the proposed Lamu oil refinery but said Uganda will not commit funds to the project until it clarifies the status of an earlier refinery plan in Tanga, Tanzani
Museveni spoke on Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lamu refinery, which was also attended by President William Ruto and businessman Aliko Dangote.
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The Ugandan leader said he welcomed the Lamu project but noted that Uganda had already been planning to establish its own refinery to process domestic petroleum and serve markets in parts of the region.
Museveni said Uganda had previously discussed building a refinery in Tanga with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, but the project encountered challenges whose outcome he said remained unclear.
He explained that Uganda would first establish what happened to the Tanga proposal before deciding whether to invest in the Lamu facility.
“I support this refinery, but I will not invest yet,” Museveni said, drawing laughter from those attending the ceremony.
He nevertheless pledged to work with Presidents Ruto and Samia to explore how the different refinery projects could be coordinated.
Museveni said Uganda has petroleum resources and requires refining capacity to support its domestic economy and supply markets in neighbouring countries.
He also used the occasion to call for increased investment and industrial development across Africa, arguing that the continent needs more economic activity to close the gap with other regions of the world.
The President described the Lamu refinery as part of the wider push to expand industrialisation and economic opportunities across Africa.
