Nairobi, Jan. 24 -- President Yoweri Museveni Tuesday commissioned Uganda's first of four oil rigs to start drilling at the Kingfisher field on the shores of Lake Albert as the country eyes production in 2025.

The three other rigs will be installed at Tilenga.

Uganda discovered crude reserves estimated at 6.5 billion barrels, with 1.4 billion recoverable nearly two decades ago in the western region in the Lake Albertine basin, Kingfisher and Tilenga oilfields.

Mr Museveni switched on the rig - a LR8001 deluxe land rig - installed in November 2022 at the Pad-2 site at Buhuuka village, Kibuube District. It is operated by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and will start drilling 31 oil wells on four well pads.

At current oi...