Civil society debates how to regulate methane

Kampala, August 8, 2026 - Uganda’s petroleum projects continue to make significant progress. As of the end of June 30th, 2026, Tilenga was at 74% complete, with 234 wells drilled, exceeding the minimum of 170 wells requirement for production.

As the country prepares for first oil, a debate is emerging over whether the country needs petroleum-specific methane regulations or a broader national framework to control one of the world’s most potent greenhouse gases before commercial production begins. The government expects first oil before the end of September this year.

But as the country moves closer to production, questions are growing over how Uganda should regulate methane emissions from the oil and gas sector while also addressing emissions from agriculture, waste management and other activities. At the centre of the debate is whether Uganda should develop specific methane regulations for petroleum operations or adopt a wider framework covering short-lived climate pollutants, including methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Methane, although it remains in the atmosphere for a shorter period than carbon dioxide, has a much stronger warming effect in the near term. Scientists estimate that methane has more than 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over its first 20 years in the atmosphere. The debate comes as the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development develops a draft Methane Emissions Abatement Roadmap and a National Action Plan for Short-Lived Climate Pollutants.