Overview:
The EACOP Academy, launched in August 2024, is a flagship vocational training programme by EACOP Ltd in partnership with UPIK. It equips young people with hands-on skills in Mechanical, Electrical, Production, Instrumentation, Leadership, and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) disciplines.
Kigumba. A total of 141 students have graduated from the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Academy at the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK), marking a major milestone in efforts to build local capacity for Uganda and Tanzania’s oil and gas industry.
The EACOP Academy, launched in August 2024, is a flagship vocational training programme by EACOP Ltd in partnership with UPIK. It equips young people with hands-on skills in Mechanical, Electrical, Production, Instrumentation, Leadership, and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) disciplines — ensuring they are ready for the demands of a rapidly growing energy sector.
The academy builds on the success of the EACOP Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), which attracted more than 23,000 registrations and 12,000 completions across East Africa. From that pool, 110 trainees from Tanzania and 31 from Uganda were selected for intensive, industry-aligned training at UPIK. The curriculum was designed to meet both national development priorities and EACOP’s operational needs, preparing graduates for employment within the energy value chain.
Of the graduating class, 25% were women, while 80% came from communities along the pipeline route — underscoring EACOP’s commitment to inclusivity, local participation, and community empowerment.
Speaking at the ceremony, EACOP Deputy Managing Director JB Habumugisha congratulated the graduates for their achievement and urged them to uphold excellence and integrity as they enter the workforce.
“Today, you’re standing on the shoulders of giants, but tomorrow, you will be the giants,” he said. “However, it takes discipline and attitude — skills without these are nothing.”
Mr. Bernard Ongodia, Director of UPIK, commended the partnership for enhancing the institute’s training capacity and transforming the career prospects of young people across the region.
The event was attended by members of the EACOP Senior Leadership Team (SLT), officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), and representatives from UPIK’s leadership and training faculty.