Makerere University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd to create a platform for finalist and recently graduated students to undertake internships and industrial training with EACOP. The pact provides a framework that will guide the collaboration between the two entities.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe signed on behalf of Makerere University while Martin Tiffen, the MD signed on behalf of EACOP at a ceremony held at Makerere University on Tuesday 16th July 2024. The MoU details the two main areas of collaboration in capacity building including internships or graduate training and the trainer of trainers.
In his remarks, Prof. Nawangwe commended the initiative which he said will benefit several students from the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) and the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) where programs related to the oil and gas industry are offered. He noted that oil and gas was still a young industry in Uganda and therefore the collaboration was timely.
Prof. Moses Musinguzi, the Principal of CEDAT made remarks.
Prof. Moses Musinguzi, the Principal CEDAT said the college was ready to collaborate with EACOP based on the fact that it is home to several programs in addition to the traditional engineering courses offered. He said all professionals have something to input into the oil pipeline and therefore the college was ready to offer the necessary support in ensuring that the MoU is actualized.
Dr. Peter Olupot, the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department who spoke on behalf of the Dean School of Engineering said the school offers a range of programs relevant to the oil and gas industry in addition to the petroleum and geoscience subjects offered in the College of Natural Sciences. He said the School of Engineering was moving towards problem-based learning and competence-based assessment and therefore values the industry-academia relationships which will further the ongoing efforts towards producing graduates relevant to the industry.
Dr. Peter Olupot, HoD Mechanical Engineering Department spoke on behalf of the Dean School of Engineering.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd. is a project company set up to develop, build, and operate a pipeline system that will transport crude oil from the inlet flange at Kabaale in Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.
On Friday, October 3rd, 2025, the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) held a Safeguarding Awareness session aimed at equipping staff and students with essential knowledge to ensure their safety within the University environment. The event, held in the CEDAT Conference Hall, attracted a large number of students and was facilitated by student Champion Atim Mary Agnes from the Margaret Trowel School of Industrial and Fine Art. Her engaging presentation emphasized the importance of creating a safe, supportive, and informed campus community.
“Safeguarding starts with you,” emphasized student Champion Atim Mary Agnes as she introduced the concept and practice of safeguarding during the awareness session. She underscored the importance of identifying effective strategies to prevent incidents that may expose individuals to harm. Atim highlighted the various parties involved in safeguarding, including survivors, alleged offenders, whistleblowers, and third-party witnesses, and stressed the need for collaborative efforts among all stakeholders. She also noted that fifty staff safeguarding champions and over one hundred student champions had been trained, recognizing that students are often the primary targets and the most vulnerable group within the university community.
On 5th September 2025, at the Sheraton Hotel, Makerere University’s School of Engineering joined the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPP) to witness the launch of the scholarship, during which the beneficiaries, mainly second-year engineering students, received scholarships to cover tuition and functional fees for three years.
Speaking at the event, EACOP’s Corporate Affairs and HR Director, Ms. Irene Baguma, representing the MD, noted that this is a joint programme with EACOP and CPP (Uganda). She said the mission of EACOP & CPP goes beyond the pipeline to uplifting communities, demonstrating their commitment to corporate social responsibility. They urged scholars to stay focused because they are ambassadors of hope and will, one day, bring hope and give back to the community.
Assoc. Prof. Kizito Maria Kasule, the Deputy Principal of CEDAT, spoke on behalf of the College, extending appreciation to the parties for the scholarships awarded to the students. He said this will enable the students to concentrate on their studies and have fewer worries about raising the tuition.
On August 21, 2025, a delegation from the Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) improvement project visited Roofings Rolling Mills’ facility in Namanve Industrial Park. The visit represented the project’s fourth major engagement with industry stakeholders, continuing its goal to foster a world-class safety culture within Uganda’s engineering and industrial sectors.
This OSHE initiative is a collaboration among Makerere University, Busitema University, and Kyambogo University, with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering in the United Kingdom. It aims to establish Centres of Excellence at each university, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical industry application of Occupational Safety, Health and Environment(OSHE) standards.
The Makerere University team, led by Dr. Abubaker Matovu Waswa, Head of the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) and Principal Investigator of the project, received a warm welcome from a senior delegation of Roofings Rolling Mills. The reception involved key engineers from the Health and Safety Department, along with Human Resources and Production Managers, highlighting the company’s strong commitment to collaborative innovation and industrial partnership.