The senior executives of Vitol Bahrain E.C., the strategic partner and anchor supplier for the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), are expected to arrive in Kampala this week. This high-level visit comes at a critical moment as the global energy market faces severe instability due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for international oil trade.
The delegation is scheduled to hold emergency “crisis-time” discussions with senior government officials and UNOC leadership to navigate the logistical and financial disruptions caused by the ongoing maritime blockade in the Persian Gulf. This blockade has already caused Brent Crude prices to surge past $120 per barrel.
Vitol Bahrain, a subsidiary of the world’s largest independent oil trading company, currently finds itself at the center of a geopolitical storm. Since late February 2026, the Strait of Hormuz has been virtually closed following military conflicts between the United States, Israel, and Iran. In response to what Tehran described as “unprovoked attacks on its sovereign territory,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) restricted movement through the narrow waterway.
This action has disrupted nearly 20% of the world’s daily oil supply, forcing global giants like Vitol, Mercuria, and Glencore to scramble for alternative sources to supply landlocked nations like Uganda.
The stakes for Uganda are incredibly high. Under a 2023 agreement, Vitol Bahrain serves as the sole importer of the country’s petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel. While this system was designed to eliminate middlemen and stabilize prices, the current global shortage is testing the resilience of this state-led model.
According to sources within the Ministry of Energy, the discussions will focus on identifying alternative supply routes outside the Gulf to ensure steady flow through the Port of Mombasa, strategies to shield Ugandan consumers from “fuel price shocks,” and the status of the $2 billion loan approved by Parliament for the Kampala Storage Terminal and the Eldoret-Kampala pipeline project.
This disruption arrives just as Uganda’s sole-importation program began showing success, reportedly generating $150 million in its first year. Analysts warn that if the closure of the Strait of Hormuz persists, it could derail regional infrastructure projects and exacerbate inflation throughout East Africa.
