Uganda has asked the Dangote Group to take part in its planned multibillion dollar oil refinery and to invest in fertilizer and salt production, hoping to tap the Nigerian conglomerate’s industrial experience to process the country’s natural resources, create jobs and cut its reliance on imports.
According to a statement on Sunday by the Dangote Group, the proposals were presented during a visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and Dangote Fertiliser Limited in Lagos by a Ugandan delegation led by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza, and the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Privatisation and Investment), Hajjat Amina Mukalazi.
The statement said the ministers pledged government support for the collaboration, saying Uganda wants to turn its crude oil and mineral resources into domestic production and wider economic benefits.
It also disclosed that the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, received the delegation with senior group executives, including Group Vice President Devakumar Edwin; Group Executive Director, Logistics and Distribution, Abdu Dantata; Group Executive Director, Commercial Operations, Oil & Gas, Fertiliser, Fatima Aliko Dangote; and Managing Director, Infrastructure and Logistics, Captain Jamil Mohammed Abubakar.
The statement said Mukalazi invited the group to play a leading role in the proposed 60,000 barrel per day refinery in the Hoima area, which she called a major industrial priority.
She said the project would benefit from the group’s experience in engineering, construction and operation of large industrial facilities.
“You have shown that an African company can build a world-scale industry in Africa and run it by Africans themselves,” she said.
She stressed that the estimates presented by the delegation would need technical assessment by Dangote’s team.
She argued that the Ugandan refinery could complement the group’s planned refinery in Lamu, Kenya, by serving inland markets while the coastal facility supplies maritime and coastal ones.
Uganda also presented opportunities in fertiliser blending, phosphate processing and salt manufacturing, which she described as potentially connected investments that could share infrastructure and distribution networks.
“Our crude, our phosphate, our salt are waiting to be turned into fuel, fertilisers and chemicals here in Africa and in Uganda by Africans,” Mukalazi said.
Mukalazi conveyed an invitation for Dangote to visit Uganda for further talks and assured the group that the government would work to remove investment bottlenecks.
“Uganda needs Dangote, and now is the right time,” she said, adding that he would bring investment, technology and opportunities for local participation.
She said the benefits would go beyond capital to skills development, employment and opportunities for local businesses, with knowledge transfer and jobs for young people in particular.
Musenero said the delegation came both to learn from the group’s experience and to explore practical collaboration in developing Uganda’s petroleum and fertiliser industries.
She identified fertiliser as a particular opportunity, explaining that Uganda has suitable mineral resources but has struggled to convert them into finished products.
“This is an Africa-to-Africa collaboration. We believe Dangote can operate very successfully in Uganda,” she said, adding that the tour showed the scale of investment African businesses can undertake.
“Sometimes, we think too small,” she said, adding that she wished she could convince Dangote to fly back with the delegation so work could start the next day.
She said Uganda wants an early follow-up visit and that the proposed collaboration already enjoys political support.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, David Bird, said the presence of two ministers showed Uganda’s commitment to exploring an industrial partnership.
He noted that the country has incredible natural resources and human capital, with no shortage of ambition or political will to pursue industrialisation.
Bird said the engagement offered a chance to identify common interests and explore collaboration within the group’s wider expansion strategy.
He said the visit demonstrates the strength of the relationship and the importance of strengthening the group’s expansion into East Africa as part of Vision 2030.
