Tanzania and Uganda Accelerate Infrastructure Push as First Oil Exports Loom

Tanzania - Uganda

Tanzania and Uganda, long bound by economic and regional ties, are moving rapidly to finalize a suite of ambitious infrastructure projects as crude oil exports from Uganda approach, officials from both countries said this week.

Leaders in Dar es Salaam described the expected launch of Uganda’s first crude oil exports, slated for mid-2026 via the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, a 1,443-kilometer conduit to Tanzania’s Indian Ocean port of Tanga, as more than a milestone in energy development. It is also a catalyst for expanded cooperation on transport, trade and regional logistics that could reshape the economic landscape of East Africa.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda met at the State House in the Tanzanian commercial capital to review progress on infrastructure projects and discuss next steps. It was Mr. Museveni’s first foreign visit since his re-election earlier this year, and a sign of how energy developments are driving renewed diplomatic engagement between the two neighbors.

“Exporting our oil is not an end in itself,” Ms. Suluhu told reporters after the talks. “It is part of a broader framework of cooperation that will strengthen ties across infrastructure, ports and rail networks.”

Officials said the pipeline, which is expected to begin transporting crude to global markets by mid-2026, has reached advanced stages of construction, with significant progress on the preparation of export facilities at the Port of Tanga. Once operational, the pipeline is projected to carry more than 200,000 barrels of oil per day from Uganda’s oilfields near Lake Albert, joining a constellation of energy infrastructure projects reshaping the region’s economic prospects.

Beyond the crude line, discussions included plans for a proposed natural gas pipeline from Tanzania to Uganda and a refined petroleum products pipeline back to Tanzania’s coast, projects that could contribute to long-term energy security and trade integration.

Ms. Suluhu also highlighted cooperation on port and rail infrastructure. She emphasized expanding capacity at Tanzania’s major gateways, including the ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara, to accommodate growing cargo flows. Plans for a rail link from Tanga to Musoma, which would facilitate freight access that could eventually connect with Uganda through Lake Victoria, were part of the agenda.

The talks underscored Tanzania’s role as a key maritime hub for its landlocked neighbors. Officials said improving logistics and reducing transport costs would be central to expanding regional trade, particularly as energy exports begin in earnest.

The meetings also touched on regional diplomacy and security. Ms. Suluhu praised Uganda’s decision to step aside in a contest for a United Nations Security Council seat, clearing the way for Tanzania’s bid, and pledged continued support for diplomatic initiatives aimed at stability in the Great Lakes region.

For Mr. Museveni, the visit was an opportunity to underscore the importance of strategic cooperation among African nations as they seek to navigate economic transformation and geopolitical change. “We must combine our efforts,” he said, emphasizing integration as a foundation for development and regional resilience.