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 16^th 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 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.

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.