Report urges stronger Uganda methane control before first oil

What the report says

A new briefing by the Natural Resource Governance Institute is urging Uganda to put a stronger methane control system in place before commercial oil production begins. Reported by The Independent Uganda, the warning comes as the Lake Albert oil project moves toward first oil, with the Tilenga and Kingfisher developments expected to be major sources of emissions if controls are not tightened.

NRGI says Uganda has made progress on climate policy, including the National Climate Change Act, but still lacks methane-specific rules, baseline emissions data and robust monitoring, reporting and verification systems for the petroleum sector. The group argues that broad bans on flaring and venting in existing oil laws need to be turned into practical enforcement measures, including leak detection, gas recovery and clearer institutional responsibilities.

The report also says Uganda should develop a methane action roadmap by 2027 and include oil and gas emissions more explicitly in its next Nationally Determined Contribution. It recommends using internationally recognized measurement systems and improving technical capacity so emissions can be tracked more accurately. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, meanwhile, says it is working on a draft Methane Emissions Abatement Roadmap and a National Action Plan for Short-Lived Climate Pollutants.

The issue matters because methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, and NRGI says the period before production starts offers a chance to install controls before emissions rise. The article notes that industry timelines for first oil may have slipped, which could give officials more time to finalize safeguards.