By Uziah Tusaasire
Ugandans are increasingly taking up the majority of jobs on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline as it moves closer to completion, project officials have said.
The Deputy Managing Director, John Bosco Habumugisha, revealed this while presenting updates at the 11th Oil and Gas Convention held at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort.
He noted that many roles initially handled by expatriates are now being transitioned to Ugandans, particularly those trained through specialized programmes.
According to the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, the project is expected to create 14,000 direct jobs, 45,000 indirect jobs, and 105,000 induced employment opportunities.
Habumugisha said extensive capacity building has been carried out through training, internships, and international exposure in countries such as France, Malaysia, and Oman.
He reaffirmed that the pipeline now at 84% completion is on track for delivery this year. Key milestones already achieved include completion of the Tilenga feeder line, installation of marine loading arms, and insulation of crude oil storage tanks. Ongoing work focuses on finalizing piping systems.
Beyond construction, the project continues to support communities along the corridor through school reconstruction, sanitation improvements, water projects, and environmental initiatives like tree planting and the green schools programme.
Habumugisha also highlighted strong partnerships with stakeholders, including the Roman Catholic Church and the Bunyoro Kingdom, which has provided 500 acres for tree planting, contributing to over 138,000 trees planted so far.
At the same event, the National Petroleum Policy 2025 was launched to guide the sector into commercial production, with emphasis on value addition and environmental protection.
Uganda expects its first oil production in July, projected at over 60,000 barrels per day. The crude will be transported through the 1,443-kilometre pipeline from Kabale Hoima to Tanga.
