As the country prepares for first oil in July 2026, the oil and gas sector is entering a transformative phase, and at the heart of this transition lies a powerful story of skills, capacity building, and national empowerment.
At the recently concluded 3rd Oil and Gas Skills Expo 2026, hosted at Makerere University, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Ugandans carry forward transferable skills into the wider economy.
Speaking at the Expo, Andrew Mafabi, HR Manager at EACOP, called on universities and vocational institutions to adapt curricula to emphasize hands-on training, ensuring graduates are market-ready for both oil and gas operations and other industries.
“The challenge for us as nationalists is ensuring our education system remains relevant,” Mafabi noted. “We need to shift the message toward hands-on experience. Looking at international benchmarks, like the Arabic model of vocational excellence, it’s clear that we must rethink how we educate the African graduate to ensure they possess the specific skills the market actually demands.”
He further highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between skills and experience. While Ugandans now possess the technical capacity, exposure to real-world operations remains critical. “As nationals, we have the skills, but the biggest challenge has been experience. That’s 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,” Mafabi explained.
The Expo also showcased how businesses outside the oil and gas sector are benefiting. From DSTV installing thousands of units in worker camps to local hospitality providers expanding services, the ripple effect of oil and gas investments is reshaping Uganda’s economic landscape.
Adding to this momentum, Rubondo Ernest, the Executive Director, Petroleum Authority Uganda, emphasized that the theme “From Oil and Gas to the Wider Economy: Transparent Skills Driving Sustainable Growth” reflects Uganda’s current stage of development. As the industry shifts from heavy infrastructure construction to commercial oil production, employment numbers will naturally reduce. However, the Authority highlighted that the skills acquired, ranging from welding and scaffolding to health, safety, and environment management, are highly sought after across other sectors such as construction, hospitality, and aviation.
“The standards in the oil and gas sector are admired by other industries. Skills like plumbing, electrical work, and heavy goods vehicle driving are not confined to oil and gas, they are transferable to the wider economy,” Mr. Rubondo Ernest noted.
This deliberate focus on national content development has already yielded impressive results. Over 21,000 direct jobs have been created in the sector, with 86% filled by Ugandans, alongside 50,000 indirect jobs and 140,000 induced jobs. More than 14,000 Ugandans have been trained and certified through collaborations between government, oil companies, and institutions such as Makerere University, Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK), and Busoga Polytechnic Institute. Internationally recognized certifications like OPITO, EICTB, and City & Guilds have positioned Ugandan technicians to compete globally.
Uganda’s approach reflects lessons from other oil economies from the international sector players. Norway invested heavily in training locals during its oil boom, creating a globally competitive workforce. Uganda’s certification programs (OPITO, City & Guilds) echo this approach. Uganda’s proactive training strategy helps avoid this trap. Skills from oil and gas, welding, engineering, safety, are highly transferable to renewables, giving Uganda a pathway into green energy industries.
Uganda is poised to become East Africa’s hub for oil and gas expertise, exporting skilled labor regionally and globally. By embedding ESG standards and internationally benchmarked certifications, Uganda ensures its workforce remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global energy landscape.
Ultimately, the message from both PAU and EACOP centered around human capital development. By equipping Ugandans with internationally benchmarked skills and practical experience, the sector is laying the foundation for sustainable growth across the wider economy.
