Business & Management
2nd Oil & Gas Symposium: Govt. Develops National Local Content Policy
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.
“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.
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?”
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.
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
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence has commenced a three-day refresher training for members of the Development Committee (DC) of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The training, which began today in Jinja, aims to enhance the analytical and technical skills of committee members who are tasked with reviewing government projects submitted by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The training was today February 19, 2025, officially opened by Dr. Hennery Ssebukeera, who represented the Director of the Budget Directorate. In his opening remarks, Dr. Ssebukeera emphasized the importance of the refresher course in enabling the Development Committee to effectively conduct quality reviews and fulfill its mandate as a key gatekeeper of the Public Investment Plan. He noted that the training would improve the participants’ ability to appraise and implement public investments in line with the Public Investment Management System (PIMS) framework.
Speaking at the same event, Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, representing the Centre Director, Prof. Edward Bbaale, expressed the Centre’s gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to Uganda’s PIM cycle. He highlighted the importance of the training in harmonizing the relationship between the MDAs that draft project proposals and the analysts who review them. Prof. Okumu reiterated the Centre’s commitment to building the capacity of government officials in Public Investment Management, thereby supporting the country’s development aspirations.
The need for this training was identified during the Development Committee retreat held in 2024, which revealed limited capacity among DC members in project appraisal, specifically in reviewing prefeasibility and feasibility reports, Dr Ssebukeera noted. In response, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in collaboration with the PIM Centre of Excellence, organized this refresher course to strengthen the participants’ technical and analytical skills.
DC is a statutory committee of government that evaluates the viability of public investment projects. Its statutory composition includes: Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, National Planning Authority, Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), Office of the Solicitor General, Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development, National Environment Management Authority, Equal Opportunities Commission, Ministry or Work and Transport, Ministry of Water and Environment, Public Private Partnership Unit. The PIM Center of Excellence was recently admitted to the Development Committee as a non-voting member.
The training will cover a wide range of topics, including the role of PIMS in the country’s development goals, the logical flow of project profiles, costing, and the interpretation of interconnections between prefeasibility/feasibility reports and financial models. Additionally, participants will explore the role of public-private partnerships in national development.
Dr. Ssebukeera encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions, share their expertise, and apply the knowledge gained from the training. He noted that this engagement would empower the Development Committee to effectively perform its role in reviewing and approving public investment projects, ensuring they align with national priorities and deliver value for money.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence, established by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in partnership with Makerere University School of Economics, continues to play a pivotal role in building the capacity of MDAs in managing public investments. To date, the Centre has trained over 300 officers and produced several research papers, reflecting its commitment to enhancing public investment management in Uganda.
The training in Jinja is expected to enhance the participants’ capacity to effectively review government projects, thus supporting the effective implementation of Uganda’s Public Investment Plan.
Business & Management
Somali Officials Complete Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management at CoBAMS
Six Somali government officials have successfully completed a three-day Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management, held at Makerere University’s Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE). The training, funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), took place from January 27 to 29, 2025, and aimed to enhance regional capacity in infrastructure planning and management.
The training brought together senior civil servants and policymakers from Somalia, equipping them with practical knowledge and strategies for sustainable infrastructure asset management. It also fostered valuable cross-border collaboration, facilitated by UNCDF Uganda, which played a crucial role in connecting Makerere University with the Government of Somalia.
The program was delivered by experienced faculty from Makerere University’s College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), alongside experts from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) and the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). A special session was also led by the Makerere University Bursar, offering practical insights into financial management in infrastructure projects.
Speaking at the opening of the training, Mr. Ncube Mkhululi, the Regional Technical Advisor for UNCDF emphasized the importance of infrastructure asset management in driving sustainable economic growth. He highlighted UNCDF’s commitment to supporting capacity-building initiatives in developing economies, noting that effective infrastructure planning and management are critical to national development. He also expressed confidence in Makerere University’s expertise in delivering high-impact executive training programs for government officials.
During the closing ceremony, Prof. Bbaale Edward, the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences expressed gratitude to all partners, including UNCDF, Makerere University management, and the PIM CoE faculty, for their commitment to making the training a success. He emphasized Makerere University’s ongoing efforts to internationalize its research-led agenda, positioning itself as a hub for regional knowledge exchange.
UNCDF Program Manager, Mr. Joel Mundua, the commended the participants for their dedication and encouraged them to share the acquired knowledge with fellow officials in Somalia. This was reaffirmed by one of the participants, who pledged to apply and disseminate the learnings within their respective departments.
Mr. Sunday Denis Aliti, the Program Officer at UNCDF highlighted the importance of ensuring that infrastructure asset management strategies are practical, adaptable, and aligned with national development goals. He commended Makerere University for its leadership in knowledge transfer and regional training and encouraged continued collaboration between universities, governments, and international development partners to strengthen institutional capacity.
Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, applauded both the participants and the expert trainers who contributed to the program. He reiterated the Centre’s commitment to advancing infrastructure asset management through continued training and collaboration with regional stakeholders.
As the training concluded, participants departed with valuable insights and practical tools to improve infrastructure management in Somalia and beyond. The success of this initiative highlights Makerere University’s role as a leading institution in public investment management, fostering capacity-building efforts that drive sustainable development across Africa.
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