CNOOC Uganda Limited, an oil and gas company has awarded certificates to drivers in Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) driving undertaken since October 2021. The drivers who were trained, certified and licensed can now professionally drive Heavy Goods trucks and trailers (class CH License) or rigid trucks (class CM license) and have been trained in accordance with the East African community curriculum.
The training was undertaken by Uganda Driving Standards Agency on behalf of CNOOC to meet the skills gaps in the logistics and transportation competencies especially in the oil and gas sector in Uganda.
Transportation is among the goods and services to be provided by Ugandan companies, Ugandan citizens and Registered entities as detailed in the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) (National Content) Regulations, 2016. We have always put safety at the forefront of our business and that is why it is important to train these drivers who shall work with us or our contractors especially during the development stage.
Aminah Bukenya, Media and Publicity Manager said that, “the three months training has enabled the drivers to explore and acquire more expertise in Heavy Goods vehicles Driving and Road Safety which is well in line with the national content promotion guidelines”.
“We are happy with this initiative, we are thankful to CNOOC Uganda Limited who have trained us in Heavy Goods Vehicle driving. I feel like I am a blessed lady who can drive any big truck without any fear”,” said Irene Businge one of the beneficiaries.
This selection of trainees in this particular cohort was undertaken in partnership with Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom that supported the identification and selection of trainees from 6 districts of Kikuube, Hoima, Masindi, Buliisa and greater Kibaale together with the implementing service provider Uganda Driving Standards Agency (UDSA). The partnership with the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom was aimed at Host Community content enhancement for potential beneficiaries from the Bunyoro Sub-Region that hosts the Kingfisher Project.
In the interest of ensuring that the training maintains national social distancing and the Training Standard Operating Procedures to prevent COVID-9, the program maintained 4 trainees per instructor per day and only 1 trainee in a truck during practical sessions. This arrangement enabled the student to have ample time with their respective instructors during the training.
Andrew Byakutuga Ateenyi, the Prime Minister of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom stated that “We are grateful for the partnership between CNOOC Uganda Limited and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom and we look forward to more opportunities of working together. We want our people to be skilled enough so that we can gain from the oil and gas resource”.
Ronald Nkata, the Chief instructor of the trained students stated that “This three (3) months program has provided an interactive forum for us to share, explore and discuss concepts and issues of HGV driving and Road Safety with our trainees. “
In addition, this year CNOOC Uganda limited has sponsored the training and Certification of 120 Welders in 2G,3G,4G, 5G and 6G Coded welding to AWS international standards, 84 Teachers in the Train the Trainer program that included 5 certified programs for teachers from UPIK and UTC Kichwamba, 150 SMEs in the Enterprise development program, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) training and certification of 60 participants that provided the engineering construction industry workforce the skills it needs to meet the challenges of the future enabling development and qualification in a wide range of craft, technical and professional disciplines.
- As an energy company with a strong sense of social responsibility, CNOOC Uganda Limited is committed to National Content promotion to enable Ugandans to tap into the opportunities in the oil and gas sector. CNOOC Uganda Limited along with its key JV partners have been involved in long term planning and strategies to ensure the first oil by 2025. We are close to the finish line and we hope that we can work together to attain this dream.
