Eastern Region

Eastern Region is Uganda's agricultural heartland—stretching from Mount Elgon on the Kenyan border through the Lake Kyoga basin to the shores of Lake Victoria. The region produces coffee, cotton, and food crops that feed both domestic consumption and export markets. Jinja, at the source of the Nile, historically hosted Uganda's industrial base including the Owen Falls Dam (now Nalubaale). The region borders Kenya, providing trade corridor access that will become more significant as EACOP oil flows to Tanzania's coast (first production H2 2026). Eastern Region's population growth and agricultural expansion push against environmental limits—deforestation on Mount Elgon causes landslides, while Lake Victoria's fisheries face overharvesting. Unlike Western Region (oil extraction) or Central Region (administrative control), Eastern Region's stake in Uganda's petroleum future is indirect: improved infrastructure, electricity access, and economic spillovers if revenues are distributed equitably. The Karuma 600 MW hydro project (commissioned September 2024) adds to the regional power grid. With $8.6 billion in projected oil GDP over 25+ years, the question for Eastern Region is whether agricultural livelihoods will be complemented or displaced by extractive economics.