Dar es Salaam, Jan. 13 -- FOR decades, the vast oil reserves beneath the Albertine Graben in Western Uganda remained a promise locked in the earth.

Today, that promise is finally flowing toward reality. Uganda and Tanzania are preparing to ship their first crude oil exports through the long-awaited East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) this year bringing East Africa closer to a historic energy milestone. Officials from both countries say first exports are scheduled for October 2026, following technical commissioning targeted for July 2026, a project expected to reshape the regions energy and trade landscape.

Construction of the 5 billion US dollars, 1,443-kilometre heated pipeline now nearing 80 per cent completion has entered its fin...