Buyende district, in the northern part of Busoga sub region, has been mapped for oil and gas exploration activities; the energy ministry has confirmed what has been a speculation for years.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development recently announced new areas for petroleum activities. These are Moroto-Kadam Basin, Lake Kyoga Basin, and Hoima Basin. A basin (also known as a sedimentary basin) is a depression in the Earth’s crust that is formed by plate tectonics.
Buyende district is located in the Lake Kyoga Basin, a 7831 km2
exploration acreage located centrally in Uganda . the basin is named after Lake Kyoga, a fresh water body that links the great and majestic River Nile from Lake Victoria and up north to Egypt via the Sudans.
Other districts in the Lake Kyoga Basin are Amolatar, Kaberamaido, Dokolo, Apac, Serere, Soroti Pallisa, Ngora and Nakasongora.
The Moroto- Kadam Basin is a 5672 km2 exploration acreage consisting of Kumi, Nabilatuk, Katakwi, Napak, Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Bulambuli, Kween, and Bukedea districts.
The Hoima Basin is a 3,741 km2 exploration acreage with Hoima, Kikuube, Masindi, Kagadi, Kibaale and Kakumiro district. Already Hoima and Kikuube have had a taste of exploration activities since they are in the Albertine Graben Basin currently being developed for oil and gas production.
The announcement of the three basins by the energy ministry was made in accordance to section 47(5) of the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Act, 2013.