Eng. Irene Batebe and Prof. Eria Hisali (Centre) with other officials and delegates from Ministries, Parliament, OWC and the Private Sector at the 2nd National Oil and Gas Symposium, 9th December 2021, CTF2 Auditorium, Makerere University.
The Government of Uganda has drafted the National Local Content Policy in an effort to encourage participation of the private sector in the oil and gas exploration. This was revealed by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, during the second annual National Oil and Gas symposium held on December 9, 2021 in the CTF 2 Auditorium, Makerere University. The symposium was run under the theme “National Content and Sustainability of Uganda’s Oil and Gas Sector”.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Eng. Irene Batebe, said the government is engaged in skilling Ugandans because the oil and gas sector will create employment for the population directly, indirectly and by induction. She said the government had strengthened vocational training as well as training of farmers and SMEs to ensure they can compete in the industry.
The Permanent Secretary, Eng. Irene Batebe represented the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Ruth Nakabirwa at the 2nd National Oil and Gas Symposium.
“We have partnered with the German Government, Stanbic Bank and African Development Bank to train our SMEs and ensure they meet the environmental, health and safety standards required by the industry. With this we hope to see more Ugandans participate in the industry,” the Minister said. Because the oil and gas industry is a capital intensive sector, the Minister revealed that they are working with the Ministry of Finance to start a Local Content development fund with the aim of providing seed capital to SMEs and farmers to enable them supply goods and services to the oil and gas industry.
The Minister said the MEMD is training suppliers in an effort to equip them with knowledge of the required standards which will enable them participate in the oil sector. She added that the ministry is undertaking additional work of intensive exploration and a second licensing round with two companies, one of which is Uganda National Oil Company(UNOC), to run key projects such as developing oil fields and constructing supporting infrastructure. “With this, we hope to discover additional oil wells that will sustain the infrastructure we are putting in place,” she added.
The Principal CoBAMS, Prof. Eria Hisali represented the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
In his remarks read for him Prof. Eria Hisali the Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, emphasized that the Symposium is very timely as it will help the stakeholders to understand how to participate in the development of the oil sector.
“Investments have started to flow into the country and will increase for the next three years. This provides an opportunity for our businesses to make money and build capacity which can be used beyond Uganda,” he said.
The Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho who participated online in his opening remarks said, “In the next 5 years, over 10 billion Dollars will be invested in the Albertine region”. He however asked pertinent questions “How are our food, security, logistics, engineering and consultancy companies prepared for the massive investment going to take place in the Albertine region?”
A screenshot of the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho delivering his remarks.
The investment in the region according to the Minister includes 14 fields under development, 6.4 billion barrels of oil and 5 billion cubic feet of gas.
The minister said the Ministry continues to support farmers’ associations in the Albertine region through training in areas of market access and optimization and a needs assessment will be done to underscore if they can supply the pipeline food needs. Responding to the main challenge of access to affordable financing the Minister assured the stakeholders of the planned discussion with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development so that a Local Content Development Fund is set up in effort to reiterate Government’s commitment in fostering local content and local participation.
Victoria Namusoke Kayemba, Sector Head, Oil & Gas, represented the CEO Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited Anne Juuko.
Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Otaala, the Chairperson for the Energy and Resources Committee of Parliament resounded the passing of the Oil and Gas bill saying when passed, the bill will offer opportunities to local suppliers. Dr. Otaala tasked the Ministry of Energy to expedite the proposal and process of the National Content Fund to allow Ugandans participate in the Oil and Gas sector by building skills and being able to financially stand on their own. He concluded by assuring the stakeholders of Parliament’s support.
“Parliament will stand with the public by passing the necessary legislation which will allow Ugandans to participate in the oil and gas sector and we want the development of the Pipeline to be in tandem with the development of the refinery,” he said.
The symposium was attended by companies in the oil and gas sector, private sector, banking sector, security sector, academia, government ministries and SMEs.
Betty Kyakuwa is the Principal Communication Officer, CoBAMS
Arising from an existing Memorandum of Understanding (September 2021) between University of Padova, Italy (UniPd) and Makerere University (Mak), the two institutions partnered and were jointly granted funding for the Erasmus+ KA171 international credit mobility for students and staff, 2024-2027. At Mak, the Departmental Flow Coordinator is Felix Wamono (PhD) and the project Principal Investigator is Saint Kizito Omala (PhD), both of Department of Statistical Methods and Actuarial Science (DSMAS).
In this regard, the Department of Statistical Methods and Actuarial Science wishes to announce opportunities for students and staff credit mobility to the Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy for the Winter Semester, October 2025 – February 2026.
The selection process shall entail five-steps:
Step 1: Submission of documents by candidates for nomination, with an internal deadline of April 21st, 2025, 05.00 p.m. (EAT) to allow for time to process nomination applications; Step 2: Nomination of candidates who would have applied for nomination; Step 3: Submitting the list of nominated candidates, by April 28th, 2025, to the International Projects and Mobility Office of the University of Padua, Italy; Step 4: Eligibility check and communication to successful candidates by the International Projects and Mobility Office of the University of Padua, Italy; and Step 5: Application for the Mobility opportunity by successful candidates.
Inquiry
Reach out to Dr. F. Wamono on +256 772 467206 Dr. S.K. Omala via +256 772 491545 before April 21st, 2025.
A two-week intensive training in Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis for government officers across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) concluded today April 11, 2025 at the Pearl on the Nile Hotel in Jinja. The training, delivered under the Programme on Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis (PIAR) and spearheaded by the Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) at Makerere University, sought to bridge long-standing capacity gaps in the preparation, appraisal, and review of public sector projects.
The event was officially closed by Dr. Hennery Ssebukeera, representing the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Dr. Ssebukeera highlighted that the training was designed in response to a comprehensive needs assessment, which revealed persistent gaps in government officers’ abilities to carry out cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses, and to prepare or assess pre-feasibility and feasibility studies.
One of the participants receives a certificate from Dr. Hennery Ssebukeera who represented the PSST, as Ms. Esther Ayebare, Assistant Commissioner PAP and Prof. Eria Hisali Look on.
“Many government projects have not been properly appraised due to limited internal capacity,” Dr. Ssebukeera stated. “Too often, we rely on external consultants to prepare feasibility studies, yet our officers are not adequately equipped to interrogate or validate those studies.” He expressed confidence that participants now possess practical skills to analyze topics such as risk analysis, financial modelling, discount rates, project finance, and consumer surplus. “You are now in a position to not only prepare but also critically evaluate complex project documentation,” he added.
Ms. Esther Ayebare, Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Public Investment Management Department at MoFPED, acknowledged the participants’ dedication and active engagement. “As the unit that hosts the Development Committee, we are pleased that this training has added critical skills to help you prepare and submit viable public projects,” she said, calling on the participants to be part of building a sustainable pipeline of investment-ready projects.
Participants attending the training.
In his remarks, Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, emphasized that this training is only the beginning. “While we’ve now completed the financial appraisal component, the next step is Economic Appraisal and Stakeholder Analysis—where we evaluate a project’s broader impact on society and the economy,” he said. He also extended appreciation to the Government of Uganda, particularly MoFPED, for funding the training, as well as to Ms. Esther Ayebare and other facilitators for their unwavering commitment.
Prof. Eria Hisali, who represented the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences, praised the participants for navigating what would typically be a semester-long course within just two weeks. “This is a practical, work-oriented training. The knowledge you’ve gained here should be applicable immediately,” he said. He further invited the graduates to attend the upcoming Public Investment Management Conference in August 2025 to share their experiences and provide feedback.
Participants attending the training.
Participants also expressed their gratitude. One quoted the Quran, saying, “Whoever gives you knowledge has given you everything,” in appreciation of the facilitators and the opportunity to learn.
The PIAR program, jointly implemented by Makerere University, MoFPED, the National Planning Authority (NPA), and Cambridge Resources International (CRI), includes two modules: the just-completed Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis, and the upcoming Economic Appraisal and Stakeholder Analysis. As Uganda continues to push for better value from public investments, trainings like this are building a critical mass of experts who will ensure that every shilling invested delivers real impact.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) at Makerere University has resumed its in-depth training program for government officials in Financial Appraisal and Risk Analysis. The two-week training, held in Jinja, brings together public officers from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) across Uganda.
The training was officially opened by Ms. Esther Ayebare, who represented the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST) at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). She emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening public sector capacity under the Public Investment Management System (PIMS) framework.
Ms. Ayebare underscored the importance of the training in building the technical capacity required for sound investment decision-making. “This training will empower you to make informed decisions, assess financial viability, and identify risks that could impact investment outcomes,” she noted.
Professor Edward Bbaale, Principal Investigator of the PIM CoE, he expressed appreciation to MoFPED for its financial support and strategic collaboration in organizing the training and nominating participants. “Your continued support is instrumental in enhancing the skills and capacity of government workers in Public Investment Management,” he said. He further acknowledged the role of Vice Chancellors, Permanent Secretaries, and CAOs in nominating participants and reaffirmed Makerere’s commitment to delivering transformative learning through a blend of theory and hands-on project appraisal.
Participants in the training will engage with real-world projects in sectors such as roads, health, energy, and education. Upon successful completion, they will receive a prestigious tripartite certificate from Makerere University, MoFPED, and Queen’s University in Canada. The training features facilitators from Cambridge Resources International, the International Growth Centre, the National Planning Authority, and MoFPED, offering a curriculum rooted in global best practices.
Participants were encouraged to not only apply the knowledge in their respective roles but also to mentor colleagues, thereby broadening the reach and impact of the program.
The PIM CoE continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Uganda’s public investment landscape through research, advisory services, and outreach. Recent milestones include the revision of the Development Committee guidelines and the convening of a national PIM conference in October 2024.
With the resumption of this training, Uganda takes yet another step toward fostering a skilled public sector capable of steering high-impact investments for sustainable national development.