Why the flow concentrated here
Refining capacity near Entebbe, combined with direct air links to Gulf trading centres and a permissive early licensing environment, pulled regional gold toward Uganda over the past decade. Geography did the rest: several producing neighbours have weaker export infrastructure.
The compliance bill
Hub status attracts scrutiny from correspondent banks, international refiners and financial intelligence units. The cost of remaining a hub is now measured in know-your-counterparty systems and audit capability rather than in freight rates.
Competitive risk
Neighbouring jurisdictions are building their own refining and export capacity. Uganda's advantage is not permanent, and the version of it that survives is the one built on documented, bankable flow rather than on lax questions.
Sources