Uganda has given its crude oil a commercial name. On Wednesday, 2 September 2026, President Yoweri Museveni unveiled “Pearl Sweet” as the official grade for the country’s export crude at the Kingfisher Development Area in Kikuube District.

The naming marks a critical milestone as Uganda edges closer to first oil after nearly two decades of exploration and development. “Pearl” draws from Uganda’s long-standing description as the “Pearl of Africa,” popularised by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. “Sweet” reflects the crude’s very low sulphur content — approximately 0.16 percent — which makes it easier and cheaper to refine than high-sulphur, or “sour,” grades.

“We are here to celebrate and give this baby a name. These people have told me to name this baby Pearl Sweet Petroleum. We call it sweet because it does not have sulphur. When it has sulphur, it is more expensive to remove. This one either has little or no sulphur,” Museveni explained at the ceremony.

Energy and Mineral Development Minister Dr Monica Musenero said the name carries both technical and national meaning. She noted that “Pearl Sweet” represents purity, care for the environment, and the country’s identity as the resource prepares to compete on the global market.

The blend will combine production from two major fields in the Albertine Graben. Tilenga, operated by TotalEnergies, is expected to deliver about 190,000 barrels per day at peak. Kingfisher, operated by China’s CNOOC, will contribute around 40,000 barrels per day. Combined peak output is projected at approximately 230,000 barrels per day from recoverable reserves estimated at 1.6 to 1.65 billion barrels.

Ownership of both projects is identical: TotalEnergies holds 56.67 percent, CNOOC 28.33 percent, and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) 15 percent on behalf of the Ugandan people. The crude will be comingled at the Kabaale Shared Facilities in Hoima before entering the 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) for export through the Tanzanian port of Tanga. Because the oil is waxy and paraffinic, the pipeline — billed as the world’s longest electrically heated crude line — will keep it flowing at around 50 degrees Celsius.

A crude grade cannot be properly priced, marketed or sold to refiners without a recognised name and published quality specifications. With “Pearl Sweet” now formalised, UNOC and its partners, including marketing support from Vitol’s Bahrain subsidiary, can begin serious engagement with international buyers.

The naming comes after years of delays caused by infrastructure challenges and negotiations between Government and the joint venture partners. Officials say facilities at Kingfisher are nearly complete, with drilling targets already exceeded, and the focus has shifted to testing, commissioning and operational readiness. Commercial production is expected later this year.

While the Government continues to emphasise value addition through local refining and industrialisation alongside exports, the “Pearl Sweet” brand gives Uganda’s oil a clear commercial identity for the first time. For a country that has waited two decades to turn its oil resources into revenue, the name is both a statement of national pride and a practical step toward the global market.