Energy Policy & Regulation

Kenya and Uganda are leveraging Lake Victoria as a strategic transportation route to ensure a steady supply of petroleum products to landlocked countries in East Africa. This move is not just about logistics—it’s a step toward regional economic integration. In a bilateral meeting held Monday in Entebbe, Uganda, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Opiyo Wandayi, and his Ugandan counterpart, Ruth Nankabirwa, reaffirmed their commitment to improving petroleum trade and developing infrastructure that connects the three lake-sharing nations: Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The collaboration is centered around the Kisumu-Entebbe oil transport corridor, where Kenya’s Kisumu Oil Jetty and Uganda’s Mahathi Infra facility play pivotal roles. This corridor has become a symbol of energy security for East Africa, supporting smoother, safer, and more cost-efficient fuel movement. After the meeting, Wandayi and Nankabirwa emphasized the corridor’s impact on enhancing regional fuel supply chains, which in turn strengthens development in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to Wandayi, the addition of a third barge linking Kisumu to Entebbe will be a game-changer. "Each vessel carries up to 6.5 million liters of petroleum, which is equivalent to taking 150 trucks off the road," he stated, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits. He further noted that the expansion will lower transportation costs, cut emissions, and ease the strain on regional road networks. Nankabirwa echoed his sentiments, saying, "This clearly shows how infrastructure can serve as a strong tool for integration," stressing how petroleum movement on the lake has revolutionized trade logistics in the region.

Kenya Pipeline Corporation Managing Director Joe Sang reported a major milestone: over 470 million liters of petroleum products have been ferried across Lake Victoria since operations began in 2023. He announced plans to expand Kisumu operations to meet growing demand in Uganda and surrounding nations. Praising the partnership with Uganda’s National Oil Corporation (UNOC), Sang called it “solid and productive,” ensuring stable fuel supply and solid returns on investment. Meanwhile, UNOC CEO Proscovia Nabbanja expressed optimism for the future, and Nankabirwa stressed the urgency of fast-tracking the Eldoret-Kampala-Kigali pipeline—a key project to further deepen East Africa’s integration.