Judiciary Plans Specialised Division for Oil, Environment and Infrastructure Cases Ahead of First Oil

What the report says

The Judiciary of Uganda says it is in the final stages of creating a specialised division to hear disputes linked to environment, oil and infrastructure projects as the country moves closer to commercial oil production. Chief Justice Flavian Zeija made the announcement in Buliisa District after a two-day visit to the oil region with senior officials from the Judiciary, Bank of Uganda and Uganda Revenue Authority.

According to the Nile Post report, the planned division is meant to speed up the handling of cases that could affect major development projects, especially those tied to the oil and gas sector. Zeija said the Judiciary also intends to train judges and other judicial officers in oil and gas matters so they can better understand the industry and adjudicate disputes without unnecessary delays. He stressed that courts should continue applying the law while being aware of the wider economic implications of decisions affecting critical projects.

The visit included the Tilenga project, where Petroleum Authority of Uganda official Ali Ssekatawa said construction was progressing, with several components advancing toward first oil. He said the Central Processing Facility remained a key milestone, while other projects such as Kingfisher and the EACOP pipeline were also moving forward. Bank of Uganda Governor Michael Atingi-Ego said timely resolution of disputes would matter because the oil sector is expected to support Uganda’s broader economic transformation.

The development matters because legal preparedness could influence how smoothly large-scale oil infrastructure projects proceed as Uganda nears first production. The article presents the Judiciary’s move as part of wider institutional planning around first oil.