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2nd Oil & Gas Symposium: Govt. Develops National Local Content Policy

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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.
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.
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.
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.
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

Betty Kyakuwa
Betty Kyakuwa

Business & Management

PIM CoE Magazine Issue 1: Jul-Dec 2024

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Cover page of the Public Investment Management Center of Excellence (PIM CoE) Magazine Issue 1: July - December 2024. College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Public Investment Management Center of Excellence (PIM CoE) was conceived as a result of the 2016 PIM Diagnostic study done by the World Bank and Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development with support from Makerere University School of Economics that discovered inefficiencies in PIM in Uganda.

This report highlights the work, achievements and prospects of the Center. The Center plans to start offering Advanced level training through Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in PIM and Master of Science in Economic and Investment Modelling (MEIM). I am pleased to introduce this report to the public for use by all stakeholders.

I would like to appreciate PIM CoE Secretariat, partners, staff and well-wishers for technical support, daily running of the Center and their role in the realization of these achievements.

Special thanks go to Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, National Planning Authority, Cambridge Resources International (CRI) and Makerere University for the overwhelming support rendered towards the development of the Center.

Prof. Edward Bbaale
Principal & Principal Investigator, CoBAMS/PIM CoE

Betty Kyakuwa
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Somali Officials Complete Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management at CoBAMS

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Prof. Edward Bbaale (Seated 2nd Left) with training facilitators and the six Somali Government officials pose for a group photo. Six Somali government officials three-day Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management, held at Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE), College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), 27th-29th January 2025, aimed to enhance regional capacity in infrastructure planning and management, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

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.

Left to Right: Prof. Edward Bbaale, PIM CoE Manager-Dr. John Sseruyange and some of the officials follow proceedings. Six Somali government officials three-day Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management, held at Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE), College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), 27th-29th January 2025, aimed to enhance regional capacity in infrastructure planning and management, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

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.

Principal CoBAMS-Prof. Edward Bbaale (Right) presents a certificate to one of the officials. Six Somali government officials three-day Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management, held at Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE), College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), 27th-29th January 2025, aimed to enhance regional capacity in infrastructure planning and management, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

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.

UNCDF Program Manager0Mr. Joel Mundua (Left) and UNCDF Program Officer-Mr. Sunday Denis Aliti (Right). Six Somali government officials three-day Executive Training in Infrastructure Asset Management, held at Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE), College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), 27th-29th January 2025, aimed to enhance regional capacity in infrastructure planning and management, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

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.

Betty Kyakuwa
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Staff of School of Statistics undertake training in Data Science

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Dr. Margaret Banga (2nd Row Right) with participants and facilitators at the kick-off of the training. Statistics and Data Science (SDS) Working Group training to build capacity in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) among its members kick off Monday, 20th January 2025 facilitated by experts from Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Housing Finance Bank, and the School of Statistics and Planning (SSP), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa and will run until 24th January 2025. Participants are being equipped with a wide range of skills, covering topics such as text mining, unsupervised learning, neural networks, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and more.

The Statistics and Data Science (SDS) Working Group training kicked off on Monday, 20th January 2025, and will run until 24th January 2025. This training, an initiative by the college, aims to build capacity in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) among its members.

Participants are being equipped with a wide range of skills, covering topics such as text mining, unsupervised learning, neural networks, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and more. The training is facilitated by expert data scientists from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Housing Finance Bank, and the School of Statistics and Planning (SSP).

The SDS Working Group comprises academic staff at the School of Statistics and Planning (SSP) whose research interests focus on statistical learning and AI.

Some of the participants follow proceedings. Statistics and Data Science (SDS) Working Group training to build capacity in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) among its members kick off Monday, 20th January 2025 facilitated by experts from Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Housing Finance Bank, and the School of Statistics and Planning (SSP), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa and will run until 24th January 2025. Participants are being equipped with a wide range of skills, covering topics such as text mining, unsupervised learning, neural networks, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and more.

On January 21, 2025, Mr. Kiyingi Simon Peter and Mr. Tusubira Brian from URA led an engaging session on the practical applications of machine learning algorithms in day-to-day activities. They demonstrated how components fed into ML models are used to classify taxpayers into high-risk and low-risk categories, showcasing the transformative potential of AI in optimizing operations.

Dr. Margaret Banga, the Dean of the School of Statistics and Planning (SSP), emphasized the transformative impact of the training on both the academic and professional development of the participants. She commended the expert trainers from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and other partnering institutions for their practical and insightful contributions to the sessions. Dr. Banga noted that the training is a significant step toward enhancing the teaching methodologies and research capabilities of the faculty. “By equipping our staff with advanced skills in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, we are empowering them to deliver cutting-edge knowledge to our students and conduct impactful research that addresses real-world challenges,” she remarked.

Dr. Margaret Banga (2nd L) with participants. Statistics and Data Science (SDS) Working Group training to build capacity in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) among its members kick off Monday, 20th January 2025 facilitated by experts from Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Housing Finance Bank, and the School of Statistics and Planning (SSP), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa and will run until 24th January 2025. Participants are being equipped with a wide range of skills, covering topics such as text mining, unsupervised learning, neural networks, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and more.

The training is a testament to the SSP’s forward-thinking approach to education and research in statistics and data science. The integration of topics such as neural networks, text mining, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) underscores the need for multidisciplinary expertise in an increasingly data-driven world. Dr. Banga highlighted that this capacity-building effort aligns with the college’s strategic objectives of fostering innovation and staying ahead in the rapidly evolving fields of data science and statistical learning.

The Dean further stressed the importance of partnerships with organizations like the Uganda Revenue Authority and Housing Finance Bank, which provide invaluable industry perspectives. These collaborations ensure that academic training is not only theoretical but also applicable to practical challenges in sectors such as taxation, finance, and public administration.

In conclusion, Dr. Banga reaffirmed her commitment to continuous learning and development within the School of Statistics and Planning. She expressed confidence that the knowledge gained through the training would translate into improved academic delivery, enriched research output, and a stronger contribution to societal and economic transformation through the application of advanced data science methodologies.

Betty Kyakuwa
Betty Kyakuwa

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