LEADERS WANT GOV’T TO INVOLVE LOCAL CONTENT SELECTION IN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

By Ismail Bategeka

BUNYORO: Leaders in the Albertine region have asked the government to always involve them in the selection process of local content and supplies in the oil and gas industry.

Mr. Okoch Bony the Kiryandongo district LCV Vice Chairperson appreciated the local content programs put in place by oil companies and asked the government to involve them in the selection process of the local content beneficiaries.

Mrs. Tumusiime Catherine, the Chief Human Resources Officer at Uganda National Oil Company {UNOC} told ugreports that they are ensuring local content to build expertise in the oil and gas industry.

‘’We want to build the capacity of Ugandans, we have provided modern learning to 25 students from the oil rich region who have undergone welding skills and are fully cleared by UNOC,’’ Tumusiime said.

Mr. Ongwadia Bernard the Principal Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba says the oil institute feels proud to be associated with UNOC through signing a memorandum of understanding.

‘’To improve the local content, we have started with 25 students on the scholarship supported by UNOC,’’ Ongwadia said.

The principal also said as part of local content improvement, another set of 150 students are to start oil and gas training in September 2022.

According to Mrs. Sebikaale Gloria of Petroleum Authority of Uganda, there is a need in development of local content as a key pillar in oil and gas supplies development.

Mr. Sebunya Henry the Kiryandongo Residents District Commissioner said communities should be informed for participation in the oil and gas industry.

“As we develop the oil and gas industry, local content is a key pillar, and we need to develop it for sustainable supplies by the people to the oil industry,” he said.

Mrs. Egau Jane the Director of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports says that the local content should be implemented in competency-based skills in oil and gas.

Mrs. Nabbanja Proscovia the Executive Director UNOC told ugreports that they are involved in an initiative with Stanbic Bank incubator to support farmers to produce foodstuffs to the standards required of the Oil and gas sector.

According to Nabanja, the Ministry of Energy will soon commission a study to understand how communities within the Albertine graben can be effectively supported to participate in the oil and gas sector by the employees and contractors.

According to Kanti Rogers, a resident of Masindi, to achieve local content on supplies in oil and gas, there is a need to involve district leadership in selecting the beneficiaries.

Mr. Ahumuza Godfrey, a businessman in Masindi town said, there is a need for business people in the Albertine region to be informed on procedures of joining the national database supplies on oil and gas.

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