The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring Ugandans acquire transferable skills that can support growth across the wider economy.
Speaking at the Oil and Gas Expo at Makerere University, Andrew Mafabi, Human Resource Manager at EACOP, urged universities and vocational institutions to redesign curricula to place greater emphasis on practical training so graduates can meet the demands of the labour market.
“We need to shift the focus towards hands-on experience. Looking at international benchmarks, particularly vocational training models in the Middle East, it is clear that we must rethink how we educate African graduates so they acquire the skills the market actually demands,” Mafabi said
Mafabi said Uganda has made significant progress in building technical capacity, but practical experience remains a major gap.
“That is why we are investing in attachments, overseas training, and practical exposure. For example, 141 trainees were taken abroad to acquire advanced skills that will be vital in operating the pipeline,” he said.
The expo also highlighted how investments in the oil and gas sector are benefiting businesses beyond petroleum operations. 4
Companies in sectors such as hospitality, transport, and telecommunications are expanding services to support oil and gas activities. DSTV, for instance, has installed thousands of units in workers’ camps, while local hospitality providers have increased accommodation and catering services.
Ernest Rubondo, executive director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), said the expo theme, “From Oil and Gas to the Wider Economy: Transparent Skills Driving Sustainable Growth”, reflects Uganda’s current stage of development as the industry transitions from infrastructure construction to commercial oil production.
He noted that while employment levels in construction activities are expected to decline as production begins, the skills acquired by Ugandans remain valuable across multiple sectors.
“Skills such as plumbing, electrical installation, welding, scaffolding, health and safety management, and heavy goods vehicle driving are transferable to sectors including construction, hospitality, and aviation,” Rubondo said.
According to the PAU, Uganda’s national content strategy has already produced notable results. More than 21,000 direct jobs have been created in the sector, with 86 per cent occupied by Ugandans. The industry has also generated about 50,000 indirect jobs and 140,000 induced jobs.
More than 14,000 Ugandans have undergone training and certification through partnerships involving government agencies, oil companies, and institutions such as Uganda Petroleum Institute, Kigumba, and Busoga Polytechnic Institute.
