Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have officially announced plans to launch joint oil exploration and development in the resource-rich Albertine Graben. This historic agreement was the central focus of high-level diplomatic discussions between President Yoweri Museveni and President Félix Tshisekedi held on Monday at State House Entebbe. The meeting, occurring on the eve of President Museveni’s inauguration, signifies a shift beyond security cooperation toward a broader agenda of resource management and strategic integration between the two neighbors.
The vast Albertine Graben basin, situated along the border of the two countries, has long been recognized as one of Africa’s most significant onshore oil deposits. While Uganda has made substantial progress with its Tilenga and Kingfisher projects, as well as the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), the Congolese side of the basin has remained largely undeveloped until now. Congolese Trade Minister Julien Paluku described the summit as the “dawn of a new era,” noting that the joint agreement will enable both nations to utilize shared infrastructure and technical expertise to harness the basin’s full potential.
By working together, the two countries aim to reduce costs and increase production, which could transform the region into an international energy hub.
Beyond the oil fields, the partnership encompasses a comprehensive range of issues, with President Museveni describing the talks as “very productive.”
The two leaders reviewed key areas of cooperation, starting with infrastructure, specifically progress on road construction projects designed to link major trade hubs in both nations. Museveni emphasized that African governments must remove “unnecessary barriers” to the movement of people (wananchi) and goods. Regarding security, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to Operation Shujaa, the joint military campaign aimed at stabilizing North Kivu and Ituri provinces by neutralizing armed groups.
Additionally, to facilitate efficient trade and logistics, the governments agreed to accelerate the construction of One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) and modern markets in the border towns of Kasindi, Bunagana, and Mahagi.
The summit concluded with the signing of six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) that officially solidify these ties. These agreements cover various sectors, including the promotion of bilateral trade, tourism development, cooperation in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and digital affairs, partnerships for export promotion, coordination of search and rescue operations, and cross-border development initiatives.
It was noted that these agreements follow the successful conclusion of the 9th Session of the Uganda-DRC Joint Permanent Commission held in Kampala earlier this month, further cementing the shared vision of prosperity for both nations.
