Uganda\u2019s oil and gas sector is making major strides in local workforce development, with over 14,000 Ugandans now trained in technical oilfield skills\u2014significantly reducing the country\u2019s reliance on expatriate labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was revealed by James Okwi, Capacity Development Officer at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), during the graduation of 30 newly certified lifting equipment operators in Hoima City. The trainees completed a one-month course sponsored by CNOOC Uganda Ltd, one of the country\u2019s major oil project investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cToday, Uganda has more than 16,200 people directly employed in the oil and gas sector\u2014surpassing our national target of 13,000 set in 2013,\u201d Okwi said. \u201cThis achievement shows that we no longer need to import foreign labor for most technical operations. Our people are ready.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The training, conducted by Zetta Energy Ltd in partnership with the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, focused on lifting operations involving cranes, forklifts, and hoists. The beneficiaries, drawn from Hoima, Kikuube, Masindi, and Buliisa districts, are among thousands in the Bunyoro region being prepared for upcoming oil and gas opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to PAU, the skills initiative is funded under a $21.5 billion investment package committed by TotalEnergies EP Uganda, CNOOC, UNOC, and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to enhance community participation in the oil value chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were once struggling with a lack of qualified heavy equipment operators, welders, and electricians,\u201d Okwi noted. \u201cNow we have trained over 1,685 heavy truck operators, 1,734 welders, and 279 electricians\u2014all from local communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bunyoro region, which hosts much of Uganda\u2019s oil infrastructure, accounts for over 5,100 jobs in the sector. PAU has challenged oil companies to continue prioritizing host communities in recruitment, noting that these areas bear the direct impact of resource extraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eric Daniel Jumba, National Content Manager at CNOOC Uganda Ltd, said the 30 graduates were selected from a pool of over 500 applicants. \u201cThis is part of our commitment to strengthening local content and preparing communities to benefit from the oil economy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom CEO Alex Katusabe hailed the effort, but called for further inclusion. \u201cWe thank CNOOC for skilling our people, but we urge companies to ensure locals are first in line when production starts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the graduates, Jumah Seninde Lubega, expressed gratitude for the opportunity. \u201cThis training has opened the door for us to compete for jobs in the oil and gas sector,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Uganda moves closer to first oil production, community-based capacity-building efforts are proving critical in ensuring that ordinary citizens\u2014not just multinational firms\u2014share in the sector\u2019s economic promise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Uganda\u2019s oil and gas sector is making major strides in local workforce development, with over 14,000 Ugandans now trained in technical oilfield skills\u2014significantly reducing the country\u2019s reliance on expatriate labor. This was revealed by James Okwi, Capacity Development Officer at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), during the graduation of 30 newly certified lifting equipment […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2270,"featured_media":40225,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_paywall_metabox":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[101],"tags":[31,119],"class_list":["post-40224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-featured","tag-uganda-news"],"yoast_head":"\n