Uganda urged to tighten methane controls ahead of 2026 oil launch

As Uganda edges closer to first oil in mid-2026, experts are warning that the country’s success in balancing petroleum development with environmental protection will be contingent on how well it handles methane emissions, one of the most potent greenhouse gases. A new study recommends urgent reforms to strengthen the legal and institutional framework to track, monitor, and enforce Uganda’s methane abatement commitments. Frank Mugisha, the Assistant Commissioner for Petroleum Exploration and Development at the Ministry of Energy, said the government is developing a national petroleum policy that will address key issues of the energy transition, including measures to curb methane emissions. Ronah Nahabwe reports.