Kampala, Uganda — In a landmark move to enhance Uganda’s human capital in the oil and gas sector, East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kyambogo University. This agreement marks a strategic collaboration aimed at fostering national content capacity building initiatives. The signing ceremony, held at Kyambogo University, was attended by key representatives from both institutions.
Guillaume Dulout, Managing Director of EACOP, hailed the MoU as a significant step towards building a skilled workforce that will transform Uganda’s oil and gas industry.
“By working closely with institutions like Kyambogo University, we aim to build a skilled and knowledgeable workforce that can drive the oil and gas sector forward while improving the lives of many Ugandans. Kyambogo University has consistently demonstrated its dedication to nurturing talent and innovation,” Dulout remarked.
This partnership aligns with EACOP’s broader strategy of collaboration with educational institutions. Similar MoUs have been signed with the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK) and Makerere University, reflecting EACOP’s commitment to creating sustainable career opportunities for Ugandan graduates.
Key initiatives under the MoU include graduate training programs and “train the trainer” schemes, providing students, instructors, and university staff with essential exposure, skills transfer, and practical experience. To date, 128 graduate trainees in Uganda and Tanzania have participated in EACOP’s capacity-building programs, with 13 specialized trainer sessions delivered.
Prof. Elly Katunguka, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University, expressed gratitude for the partnership, noting its significance in addressing employment challenges for engineering graduates.
“Kyambogo University is one of the largest engineering training institutions in Uganda, graduating over 1,000 engineers annually. This collaboration provides our students with invaluable industry experience and strengthens the link between academia and industry,” Prof. Katunguka said.