In a significant boost to local education and skills development, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd., in partnership with its Tier One contractor China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. Ltd. (CPP), has launched a university scholarship program aimed at supporting underprivileged but talented engineering students in Uganda.
The program, officially announced in Kampala, will provide full scholarships to 28 students from Kyambogo University and Makerere University, two of the country’s leading institutions for engineering education. The initiative is part of EACOP’s wider national content strategy and represents a deepened commitment to sustainable human capital development in Uganda’s oil and gas sector.
Scholarship recipients were selected through a rigorous and transparent process that assessed academic merit, financial need, passion for engineering, and a demonstrated commitment to positive community impact. Notably, seven of the awardees hail from the 10 pipeline districts, reflecting a deliberate effort to include youth from communities directly affected by the EACOP project.
“This program demonstrates our continued investment in the future of Uganda’s engineering talent and our dedication to national content development,” said Eileen Baguma, EACOP’s Human Resources & Corporate Affairs Director. “We are not only building infrastructure but also creating opportunities for young Ugandans to thrive in the oil and gas sector.”
Beyond Infrastructure: A Commitment to Capacity Building
The scholarship program is one of several educational and professional development initiatives spearheaded by EACOP and its contractors. So far, the company has onboarded 82 graduate trainees, equipping young professionals with hands-on experience in various project components. Additionally, 532 hours of training have been delivered to lecturers, technicians, and professors through the Train the Trainer program, helping integrate modern technologies and industry standards into national curricula.
EACOP has also fostered partnerships with several academic and professional institutions, including the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK), Makerere University, Kyambogo University, and the Institute of Surveyors of Uganda.
The EACOP project, which spans from Uganda to Tanzania, is not only one of the region’s most significant infrastructure undertakings but also a cornerstone for local capacity development. With initiatives like this scholarship program, EACOP and CPP are signaling a long-term investment in the people and future of East Africa’s oil and gas industry.
