Govt urged to nationalise oil and gas training

Legislators want all technical and vocational institutes to get international accreditation to train Ugandans in the oil and gas sector.

Government has so far accredited three vocational institutes in Bunyoro region including Kinyara Friendship, Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba and Q-Sourcing as a way of promoting local content.

MPs, however, argue that limiting accredited institutes to Bunyoro region does not meet the objective of promoting local content nationally.

The MPs from various committees led by the Natural Resources Committee raised the concern during a visit to the oil and gas operational areas from 17 to 20 June 2019.

Vincent Woboya (Budadiri East) recommended a quota system for each district so that students are sent from all districts to the currently accredited institutions.

"These training opportunities are not widely publicised, as such, other regions have missed out," said Woboya.

Fredrick Angura (Tororo County South) urged the government to accredit all technical institutions so that all Ugandans can benefit.

"Government passed a good policy on skilling Uganda which is for all Ugandans. That is the same way these trainings for oil and gas should be viewed," said Angura.

Reagan Okumu (Aswa County) noted that oil is a national resource and therefore, all Ugandans should be accorded opportunities to benefit.

"Why select a few institutions. Oil is not a regional resource and if it is not made national, it will cause problems. Let us revisit the language we use and how we talk about oil. We should avoid words which personalise and regionalise oil," said Okumu.

The director of technical services at the Petroleum Authority Uganda, Peninah Ahebwa said that government has assessed vocational institutions in other regions in the country for possible international accreditation.

"Right now, we are addressing the gaps for these institutions to meet international standards. For you to be internationally accredited, they look at many things including facilities, curriculum and trainers," said Ahebwa.

She added that several opportunities have been ring-fenced for Ugandans including logistics and transportation from the ports and within the fields. Others include welding and construction.