The Uganda refinery was always a legacy project for President Yoweri Museveni. Immediately Uganda discovered crude oil in 2006, Mr Museveni pronounced that Uganda will add value to its crude oil through refining. Any attempt to argue contra-economics on the refinery viability did not crack his resolve for a refinery in Western Uganda.
In 2008, Mr Museveni pushed for an EAC (East African Community) study on regional refineries. The EAC summit subsequently endorsed a green-field refinery in Uganda, while also supporting the upgrade of the now closed Mombasa refinery.
