Makerere, Kyambogo universities boosted with ICT equipment

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The universities of Makerere, Kyambogo and Nkumba have received a boost to their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, aimed at enhancing oil and gas training curricula.

The upgrades, supported by specialised education software and computer hardware, seek to align academic programmes with industry demands in Uganda’s oil and gas sector.

TotalEnergies EP Uganda and SLB (formerly Schlumberger) spearheaded the initiative, donating eight computer hardware stations to each university, including tower servers, monitors and peripherals valued at over $200,000 (about shillings 770 million).

SLB also provided licenses for four industry-leading software platforms: Petrel, Techlog, Eclipse, and Petromod, which are critical for petroleum geoscience and engineering education. These tools bridge theoretical learning and real-world application, covering exploration to production workflows.

Valerian Pfrimmer, Managing Director for East and South Africa at SLB hands over the programme implementation agreement to Prof. Jude T. Lubega, the Vice Chancellor of Nkumba University and Centre is Betty Namubiru, National Content Manager at Petroleum Authority of Uganda. (Photo by Wilfred Sanya)

The handover ceremony at Makerere University on June 11, 2025, was an attempt by the companies to commit to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 (quality education) and national content development.

TotalEnergies general manager Philippe Grouroueix emphasised the need to equip education institutions like Makerere, Kyambogo and Nkumba to train skilled professionals for the sector. Over 1,500 Ugandans have already benefited from similar technical training programmes, gaining internationally recognised certifications.

SLB East and South Africa managing director Valerian Primmer said the software donation aligns with Uganda’s vision to localise expertise. “These platforms are strategic enablers for national development."

He added that SLB will conduct training sessions in July 2025 to ensure effective use of the tools and renew licenses annually.

The vice-chancellors of the beneficiary universities: Prof. Juma Kasozi (Makerere), Dr John Okuonzi (Kyambogo) and Prof. Jude Lubega (Nkumba), expressed gratitude for the support, which builds on existing ICT advancements at their institutions. Kyambogo and Makerere, for instance, have steadily expanded ICT resources to bolster education and research.

The event was witnessed by officials from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, CNOOC, Uganda National Oil Company, and EACOP Ltd, underscoring collaboration across stakeholders. Similar initiatives, such as the Tilenga Academy and Makerere’s Emergency Medicine Simulation Training Centre, reflect ongoing efforts to integrate industry needs with academic training.

TotalEnergies EP Uganda, leading the Tilenga project in the Albertine Region, reiterated its focus on sustainable development, ensuring energy accessibility while prioritising local capacity building. This partnership marks a critical step in preparing Ugandan youth for transformative roles in the oil and gas industry.