Mega Fm: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Tanzanian President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan have launched a new chapter in Uganda–Tanzania energy cooperation following the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at accelerating regional petroleum infrastructure, industrialisation and cross-border trade.
President Museveni, who arrived in Dar es Salaam yesterday for a two-day working visit, was on hursday received by President Samia at State House, where the two Heads of State held a tête-à-tête to discuss matters of mutual interest and ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The two leaders later witnessed the signing of an MoU between the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and Vitol Bahrain E.C. to jointly develop the Tanga Regional Energy Hub.
The partnership builds on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and is expected to transform Tanga into a regional hub for petroleum storage, refining, logistics, trading and distribution. It will also complement Uganda’s oil and gas projects, including the Hoima refinery, while enhancing energy security, expanding export opportunities and strengthening trade across East and Central Africa.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Monica Musenero, described the agreement as a powerful demonstration of regional cooperation and a reflection of the long-held vision of the two Presidents to build a united and prosperous Africa.
“For a long time, Your Excellencies have advocated for a united Africa driven by common interests and shared trade. While we often speak about these aspirations, action speaks louder than words, and today we are privileged to witness a giant step towards joint development with our sister nation,” Dr. Musenero said.
She welcomed Vitol Bahrain into the partnership, saying collaboration between the two governments and the private sector would accelerate regional economic transformation.
Dr. Musenero said the projects under the partnership go beyond infrastructure development and are strategic instruments for industrialisation.
Beyond petroleum, she highlighted progress on the planned Uganda–Tanzania 400kV electricity interconnector, noting that Uganda concluded negotiations with the World Bank in March before securing US$250 million in financing in June for its section of the project.
According to Dr. Musenero, the transmission line will increase electricity exchange between the two countries, strengthen the Eastern Africa Power Pool and create new opportunities for electricity trade with Southern Africa.
She reaffirmed that Uganda’s planned 60,000-barrel-per-day Hoima refinery remains central to the country’s industrialisation agenda, emphasising that it complements rather than competes with the Tanga Regional Energy Hub.
“The hub is complementary. Together, these projects will strengthen regional energy security while enabling East Africa to retain more value from its petroleum resources,” she said.
Dr. Musenero added that the successful implementation of EACOP has demonstrated Uganda’s and Tanzania’s ability to deliver complex cross-border projects, boosting investor confidence and paving the way for future regional investments.
Tanzania’s Minister of Energy, Hon. Deo Ndejembi, described the agreement as another historic milestone in the growing energy partnership between the two countries, saying it marks the beginning of a new era of regional energy integration.
“The story we celebrate today did not begin in 2026. It began several years ago when Tanzania and Uganda made the courageous decision to deepen cooperation in the petroleum sector,” Hon. Ndejembi said.
He noted that while EACOP laid the foundation for regional collaboration, the Tanga Regional Energy Hub represents the next phase by creating value through refining, petroleum storage, logistics, trading and industrialisation.