President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday launched the process of drilling wells for extraction and Oil production in the Albertine Region, precisely, the kingfisher oil fields.
The extraction of oil will happen on the South of Lake Albert in Kyangwali sub-county, Kikuube district, covering 344 km and eleven villages.
President Museveni said Uganda is committed to using the oil and petroleum resources carefully and for multiple purposes.
“Petroleum is needed for other products not necessarily for fuel, for instance, the shirt I am putting on has got some polyester in it and it is from petrol. We need tar to make tarmac and fertilizers like nitrogen and ammonium. So we can use petroleum responsibly” — Museveni said
The president hailed the oil companies and scientists for ensuring Uganda begins developing its oil.
"I particularly thank CNOOC because they are moving and I hope others are also moving. And the Chinese government encouraged their company to come and invest here. We have been working with them since the 1950s in liberating our people and now we are in economic cooperation for mutual benefit,” — Museveni said.
China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) became a partner Oil company and brought their experience and resources to invest in the Uganda Oil industry.
President Museveni also urged Ugandans to engage in agriculture and produce food that will be consumed by those working in oil fields.
The vice president Jessica Alupo, described the occasion as a "very big milestone" for the country while the minister Nankabirwa also reiterated the role played by Oil companies to ensure the country reaches the milestone.
The Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong congratulated Uganda on the spudding of the Kingfisher oil field, describing it as an important milestone not only in the development of the Ugandans oil industry but also a major event in China-Uganda cooperation that is celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations.