THE POLICY GOAL IS TO USE THE COUNTRY’S OIL AND GAS RESOURCES
TO CONTRIBUTE TO EARLY ACHIEVEMENT OF POVERTY ERADICATION
AND CREATE LASTING VALUE TO SOCIETY.
Ownership and control of minerals and petroleum in, on or under any land or waters in the
country is vested in the Government by Article 244 of the Constitution of the Republic of
Uganda, 1995. The Constitution empowers parliament to make laws regulating the
exploration and exploitation of minerals and petroleum, the management of accruing
revenues, payment of indemnities, and the conditions for the restoration of derelict lands.
This mandate together with the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, Chapter 150
of the Laws of Uganda, 2000 and the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) (Conduct of
Exploration Operations) Regulations, 1993 provide the legal and regulatory framework
under which the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development through the Petroleum
Exploration and Production Department (PEPD), has promoted and regulated the
exploration of oil and gas in the country. This exploration effort has led to the discovery of
commercial quantities of petroleum in the Albertine Graben, an area which runs along the
entire western border of the country.