The burgeoning Ugandan oil and gas industry has continued to mature, with the expectation that commercial oil production will begin by July 2026. Lawyers in the country report growing enthusiasm from law firms, companies and the government, which is pushing infrastructure development to support the nascent sector.
Key legislative changes
In a year which saw many African nations introduce significant new legislation, Zambia rolled out the Minerals Regulation Commission Act, reflecting its boom in mining deals.
Morocco’s latest Finance Bill also committed approximately $190 million towards new infrastructure projects, echoing the trend towards investment and modernisation seen elsewhere on the continent – and no doubt playing a part in Ashurst’s decision to open in Casablanca.
In South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, three of the continent's largest economies, new laws to regulate AI, data and digital assets have been brought in. This comes as many major technology clients have been seeking to grow their presence in Africa, often using South Africa or Kenya as a hub for operations. M&A in South Africa’s technology sector saw significant growth, even as the deal market in the country overall slowed down.
Nigeria undertook a comprehensive overhaul of its tax regime through the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, which sought to replace the previous system with a new, simplified and streamlined structure.
Technology is expected to play a role in the administration and enforcement of the new framework. Provision is made in the Act for the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS) to engage in real-time revenue and transaction monitoring via a dedicated system.
