Ruto made the remarks on April 22, 2026, while addressing officials in Kenya, where he outlined Nairobi’s intention to secure a strategic stake in Uganda’s downstream petroleum sector.
He emphasized that Kenya’s participation would not only guarantee fuel security for the country but also strengthen regional integration under the East African Community framework.

The refinery, a flagship project championed by President Yoweri Museveni, is being developed in western Uganda with financing led by UAE-based Alpha MBM Investments LLC.

The project, estimated at about $4 billion, will have a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day and is expected to significantly reduce Uganda’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

The deal with the UAE investors was formalized on April 19, 2025, at State House Entebbe, where President Museveni hosted representatives of Alpha MBM Investments LLC.

During the meeting, Uganda and the investors signed key agreements paving the way for the development of the refinery, marking a significant milestone in the country’s oil and gas sector.

Ruto said Kenya intends to take an equity stake in the refinery, joining the UAE investors and the Uganda National Oil Company, which represents the Ugandan government in the project.

The move is aimed at strengthening regional energy security and ensuring Kenya benefits from downstream petroleum developments in the region.

Under the existing arrangement signed in 2025, Alpha MBM holds a majority 60 percent stake in the refinery, while Uganda retains 40 percent through its national oil company. The entry of Kenya would further broaden the ownership structure and deepen East African cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

The refinery is part of Uganda’s broader strategy to maximize value from its estimated 6.5 billion barrels of crude oil reserves and transition from exporting raw crude to producing refined petroleum products locally.

Officials say the facility will supply fuel to Uganda and neighboring markets, including Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ruto’s announcement underscores growing energy integration between Uganda and Kenya, which have in recent months strengthened ties through joint investments in infrastructure such as pipelines and fuel supply chains.

Uganda has already acquired a significant stake in Kenya’s pipeline system, reflecting increasing interdependence in the region’s petroleum sector.

Analysts say Kenya’s planned investment in the refinery could help secure stable fuel supplies for the region while reducing reliance on imports and global market volatility. It also positions Nairobi to benefit from Uganda’s emerging oil industry, especially as first oil production draws closer.

Construction of the refinery is expected to take several years, with operations projected to begin around the end of the decade.

Once completed, the facility is anticipated to play a central role in transforming Uganda into a regional petroleum hub and boosting industrialization across East Africa.

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