he Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) has called on businesses in the Bunyoro sub-region to prepare and position themselves to benefit from opportunities in the country’s oil and gas industry as Uganda moves closer to first oil production.
UNOC says although the construction phase of the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects is advancing and some opportunities are gradually reducing, significant prospects remain for Ugandan businesses, professionals and communities that invest in the right skills and capacity.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement in Hoima City, Dr. Lyoidah Kiconco, UNOC’s Head of Exploration and New Ventures, urged the business community to build the technical capabilities needed to compete for contracts in the petroleum sector.
“We appeal to Ugandans, especially the business community in the Bunyoro sub-region intending to supply the oil and gas industry, to prepare early by building the necessary skills and capabilities to take advantage of the opportunities in the sector,” Kiconco said. She also encouraged the public to maintain a positive attitude towards the petroleum industry and appreciate its contribution to Uganda’s economic development.
Meanwhile, Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) economist Eric Odongo urged job seekers to focus on acquiring technical, trade, digital and support-service skills required by the industry. He advised prospective employees to create and regularly update their profiles on the National Oil and Gas Talent Register (NOGTR) to improve their chances of securing employment.
Odongo also encouraged businesses seeking to supply goods and services to the petroleum sector to register on the National Suppliers’ Database (NSD), describing registration as the first requirement for participating in procurement opportunities.
He noted that accreditation on the National Suppliers’ Database remains valid for three years and allows companies to compete for contracts in Uganda’s growing oil and gas industry.
However, Hoima Woman Member of Parliament Beatrace Wembabazi criticised oil companies for what she described as inadequate implementation of local content requirements. She argued that despite meeting registration requirements and possessing the financial capacity to execute contracts, many local businesses from Bunyoro continue to be overlooked.
Hoima District Chairperson Uthman Mubarak Mugisa echoed similar concerns, saying many local businesses are willing and able to supply the sector but have not received sufficient support to compete effectively. He also questioned why some firms registered on the National Suppliers’ Database have not secured contracts.
Residents also expressed concern over access to opportunities. Naboth Ayebale, a resident of Buseruka Sub-county, said many entrepreneurs are discouraged by what they consider cumbersome procedures for registering on the National Suppliers’ Database.
Irene Kyomuhendo, a resident of Hoima City, said many people interested in working in the oil and gas industry lack adequate information about available jobs and business opportunities.
The local content framework requires petroleum operators to prioritise Ugandan companies in the supply of goods and services. Where local firms cannot fully meet demand, foreign companies may partner with Ugandan businesses through approved joint ventures registered on the National Suppliers’ Database.
The Petroleum Authority of Uganda evaluates such partnerships based on financial and technical capacity, experience, active participation by all partners and the potential to transfer skills to Ugandans.
Opportunities available to local companies include transport services, security, catering, hotel accommodation, human resource services, office supplies, fuel supply, surveying, clearing and forwarding, crane hire, construction materials, civil works, drilling support, environmental services, information technology and waste management.
Oil and gas development activities are currently underway in the Albertine Graben, with TotalEnergies EP Uganda leading the Tilenga project and CNOOC Uganda Limited developing the Kingfisher project-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
