Uganda's parliament is deliberating on sweeping amendments to the Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Act, with proposed changes that would significantly reshape how oil revenues are collected, managed, and distributed.
Key provisions under consideration include an increased local content requirement for oil service companies, new transparency obligations for extractive industry contracts, and a revised formula for sharing petroleum revenues with local governments in producing regions.
Oil-producing districts — particularly Hoima, Kikuube, and Nwoya — have long argued that they receive an insufficient share of petroleum revenues relative to the disruption caused by industry operations.
Industry representatives have raised concerns about some provisions, warning that overly prescriptive local content rules could increase costs and delay projects. The debate reflects broader tensions between national revenue priorities and local development needs.