The energy minister announced that Uganda is working with Alpha MBM, a UAE investment firm led by a Dubai royal, to build a refinery for its crude oil. Uganda is advancing its emerging hydrocarbons industry with a 60,000 barrel-per-day refinery that will process its crude oil and supply the region with petroleum products.The energy minister announced that Uganda had signed a memorandum of understanding with a selected investor on December 22, 2023, after evaluating several expressions of interest for the refinery project.

Alpha MBM Investments, a UAE firm led by Dubai royal Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, is partnering with Uganda to develop its oil refinery. Uganda will begin commercial oil production in 2025 from its western fields near the Congo border.

Uganda is developing its oil fields with the help of the government, CNOOC, and TotalEnergies. The government aims to process some of its crude oil locally and create jobs and technology transfer. Uganda plans to start producing oil in 2025 from its western fields, operated by the government, CNOOC, and TotalEnergies. The government also wants to process some of its oil locally and create jobs and technology transfer. CNOOC has received a licence to produce gas from the Kingfisher field, one of the two oil fields in Uganda. Uganda has 500 billion cubic feet of gas reserves.

CNOOC has received a licence to produce Liquefied Petroleum Gas at the Kingfisher field, one of the two commercial oil fields in Uganda. The other field, Tilenga, is run by TotalEnergies. Uganda has 500 billion cubic feet of gas reserves.