A total of twenty youths have been trained and passed out in automatic welding skills, a significant move to build Uganda’s citizens’ capacity to participate in the oil and gas sector.
The program commenced on January 9 under the sponsorship of China Pipeline Petroleum Company (CPP), the contractor attached to East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
Speaking during the closing ceremony for the Ugandan welders’ training program 2026, Butiaba Bagatya Matia, a national content deputy manager of China Pipeline Petroleum Company (CPP), said the enrolled individuals successfully meet the required standards to work in the oil and gas sector.
Bagatya confirmed that they were trained in automatic welding skills. “All were selected from oil and gas companies,” he said.
He added that the training will remain continuous. “The company looks forward to further selecting the best ten from the twenty already trained for ‘an integrated destructive test training’ to enable us to test the integrity of their work.”
Besides integrated destructive test training, they have also scheduled trainers’ training with its commencement date on May 18.
According to him, the skills acquired can not only be exploited on pipelines, but can also be transferred to petrochemical industries and oil refinery sectors.
Bagatya, however, said that they remain committed to improving local content to ensure citizens’ full participation in the sector.
Oala Joshua, a National Content officer from the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) said the trainees completed the training with no failures.
“At EACOP, we not only focus on vocational skilling and training, but also take keen part in goods and services, transfer of technologies, and other key pillars,” he added.
Rosemary Naija, a beneficiary, applauded the program sponsors, noting that it has enabled her to acquire advanced welding skills which will help her compete for job opportunities at the national level.
She urged the government to prioritise welding courses within government institutions. Naija observes that welding is the most required job category in the oil and gas sector.
Oyet Denis, a beneficiary from Nwoya district says the training has advanced him from local metal workers and fabrication to world-class skills.
Ainebyona Wilberforce, a national content officer at Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) applauded the implementing partners CPP and EACOP for ensuring talent development within the oil and gas sector in the country.
He says such an initiative helps to improve the local capacity to explore the benefits of the natural resources.
Such vocational skilling, he said, lies within the PAU’s mandate to both local and national content and skill development, but also its national agenda to build a strong workforce to sustainably drive the county’s oil and gas industry.
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