More Ugandans are increasingly taking up the majority of jobs on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project as it moves closer to completion, the company has announced.
EACOP Deputy Managing Director John Bosco Habumugisha made the remarks while presenting project updates at the two-day 11th Oil and Gas Convention held at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort.
Habumugisha said that as the project nears completion, many roles previously handled by expatriates are being transferred to Ugandans, especially those who have undergone sector-specific training.
“We have a workforce count of over 4,000 people, spread between EACOP staff and its subcontractors. However, we are already scaling down on expatriates and ensuring that we transfer these jobs to nationals,” he said.
According to Uganda’s Petroleum Directorate, the project is expected to generate 14,000 direct jobs, 45,000 indirect jobs, and 105,000 induced employment opportunities.
Habumugisha said significant capacity building has been done through training, internships, and international deployments in countries such as France, Malaysia, and Oman. These efforts are aimed at preparing Ugandans to take over technical roles.
He also reaffirmed the commitment to deliver the pipeline this year, with current progress standing at 84 per cent.
He said key components have already been completed, including the Tilenga feeder line, installation of marine loading arms for transferring crude oil into vessels, and insulation of crude oil tanks to maintain optimal temperatures.
Work is now focused on completing piping systems needed to transport and process crude oil.
“We made a commitment to deliver the pipeline this year and we will not stop until it is done,” Habumugisha said.
Beyond the technical milestones, Habumugisha said the project continues to support community development initiatives along the pipeline corridor.
These include reconstruction of schools, improvement of sanitation facilities, development of a sports complex in Masaka, clean water projects, and environmental awareness programmes such as the green schools initiative, which trains learners in tree planting, waste management, and school gardening.
“The project is not only about oil but also about leaving a positive legacy in host communities,” he said.
Habumugisha said the project’s progress has been supported by stronger stakeholder relationships, including collaboration with the Catholic Church and the Bunyoro Kingdom, which has provided 500 acres of land for tree planting.
This adds to more than 138,000 trees already planted in efforts to establish a “green petroleum hill.”
At the conference, the National Petroleum Policy 2025 was launched to guide the oil and gas sector as it shifts from infrastructure development to commercial production.
The policy focuses on enhancing exploration, sustaining production, maximising value addition, and ensuring environmental protection.
Uganda expects its first oil production in July amid rising global oil price tensions, with production projected at more than 60,000 barrels per day.
The oil will be transported through the 1,443-kilometre pipeline from Kabale, Hoima District in Uganda to Tanga in Tanzania.
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