At the groundbreaking ceremony for the $16 billion Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu, Kenya, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said that he supports the project but that Uganda will not invest in it at this time. He emphasized that Uganda will continue with plans for its smaller Hoima refinery.
Before committing to the Lamu project, Museveni said he wishes to consult Kenyan President William Ruto and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan about the status of the proposed regional refinery in Tanga, Tanzania. He praised Ruto for securing Aliko Dangote’s investment, noting that officials in Uganda and Tanzania had previously solicited bribes from the billionaire.
Led by Dangote, the Lamu refinery is designed to process 700,000 barrels of oil per day, serving East Africa and reducing the region’s reliance on imported fuel.
