How Ugandans are Tapping Oil and Gas Opportunities  

Based on responses to oil and gas content posted online, opportunities for individuals and companies elicit the highest response. People want jobs-direct employment and contracts to supply goods and services.

Thankfully, it is not a dream but reality. According, to the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), out of $7.14 billion approved for investment in the ongoing development phase, $1.914 billion (36%) is committed to Ugandan companies. This brings Uganda closer to the 40% national content target for this phase.
Additionally, approximately $11,909,641 has been injected into the community economy through the provision of goods and services over the years.

Regarding direct employment, according to PAU, 13,067 people were employed in the oil and gas sub-sector by December 2023. Of these, 90% were Ugandans and 4595 were from host communities.
This impressive status is a result of deliberate effort to ensure national (local) content. Simply put, it is the value added or created in the economy through employment of Ugandan workers and the use of goods (and services) available in Uganda and provided by citizens and enterprises.
It is facilitated by the National Oil and Gas Policy (2008), which states, “National participation through shareholding in licences and provision of goods and services by the country’s entrepreneurs shall be some of the key avenues to achieve the desired value creation in the country from these investments.”  

Similarly, the National Content Policy (2018) espouses employment of Ugandan citizens and enterprises and increasing the use of locally produced or available goods or services.

Employment in the sector is facilitated by PAU’s National Oil and Gas Talent Register (NOGTR). It is a reference point for employers. By March 2024, over 9125 job seekers had registered. Of these, 1989 were female while 7136 were male. A total of 109 employers are registered on the NOGTR.

Oil companies have contributed by establishing training programmes. Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) in 2022 sponsored 25 beneficiaries for welders’ training at the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK), Kiryandongo. It comprised the basics (foundation) to certification at 6G, the kind used on pipelines. Most of the beneficiaries have since been hired in the oil and gas sub-sector, according to UNOC National Content Specialist, Jessica Kyeyune. Welding, she stressed, is a skill needed in many other sectors.

So far, CNOOC Uganda Limited has sponsored heavy goods vehicle drivers-250, heavy equipment and machine operators (civil works equipment)-30, coded welders-340, Technical skills-110, and vocational skills training-220.

TotalEnergies’s “Tilenga MOOC” attracted 13,000 participants in 2002. Of these, 200 are to undergo productions operations at UPIK and abroad as part of the Tilenga Academy Training Program expected to start in 2024. The company facilitated 1,500 Ugandans to undergo training and certification in various vocational skills like heavy goods vehicle driving, scaffolding and working at heights, coded welding, quality control (QC) inspection and non-destructive testing and others. Additionally, 255 government officials have received various local & international training while 16 Ugandans have got international scholarships for master’s degree programs in oil and gas courses. A total of 10 internships and 75 graduate trainee placements for Ugandans have been facilitated.

This is in addition to 15,000 attendees of quarterly supplier development workshops held both nationally and within the host communities.

Direct employment opportunities are categorized into three namely unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled. Ahead of a project, locals are prioritised under the unskilled category. The jobs are advertised through the local council system, which conducts a ballot. The lucky ones are subsequently hired. Jobs for the semi-skilled, for example drivers, are advertised at sub-county head offices. If there are no candidates in a district, they are aired on radio in a nearby district. This is followed by shortlists, vetting and interviews by either a contractor or recruitment company. National IDs and recommendation letters from local authorities are required for unskilled and semi-skilled jobs.

Jobs for the skilled are advertised in newspapers and online including companies’ social media pages. For these, candidates from the project areas get special consideration.

On the other hand, companies seeking contracts-to supply goods and services-are facilitated by PAU’s National Supplier Database, a reference point for companies with opportunities. By March 2024, 3256 companies had registered. Of these, 2605 are Ugandan while 651 are foreign

Additionally, 16 sectors were set aside for Ugandan-owned and registered companies. Under these, supply of goods, and services is by Ugandan companies. They are transportation, security, foods and beverages, hotel accommodation and catering, human resource management, office supplies, fuel supply, land surveying, clearing and forwarding, crane hire, locally available construction materials, civil works, the supply of locally available drilling and production materials, environment studies and impact assessments, information and communication technology services and waste management.

Opportunities for companies are advertised in newspapers and online including social media pages.

To facilitate the opportunity seekers, the key players-UNOC, CNOOC Uganda Limited, TotalEnergies and East African Crude Oil Company (EACOP) Ltd routinely conduct supplier development workshops. These workshops provide companies tips on how to package excellent bids, which win contracts.

Whereas the Government and key players facilitate the acquisition of opportunities, individuals and companies ought to adequately prepare, search, pitch ideas and compete when opportunities, as they severally do, arise.

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