The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) company Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Makerere University to guide collaboration between the two parties towards the realization of the National Content Capacity Building initiatives and other Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and projects.
EACOP is a project company set up to develop, build and operate a pipeline system which will transport crude oil from the inlet flange at Kabaale in Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.
Among the commitments made by Makerere in the MoU is to work with EACOP to support knowledge and build capacity among Ugandan fresh graduates, technicians and instructors, professors, and lecturers from tertiary and vocational training institutions.
Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe and EACOP Managing Director Martin Tiffen on Tuesday signed the MoU.
“We are delighted to formalize our collaboration with Makerere University through this Memorandum of Understanding. This partnership highlights our commitment to fostering local talent and enhancing capacity-building initiatives in Uganda. By working closely with Makerere University, we aim to equip recent graduates, technicians, and educators with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project and beyond,” EACOP MD Martin Tiffen said.
These commitments will be realized through the implementation of two key Capacity Building initiatives. The first is Internship/ Graduate Training programs where graduates or existing students from the institution will be offered training and work exposure with EACOP’s suppliers and contractors on various scopes of the project according to their disciplines. The duration and location of the internships varies between the different contractors/suppliers.
The second is to the Trainer programs, which will be delivered by EACOP’s contractors and suppliers and will seek to share knowledge on their different scopes of work on the project as they relate to various engineering disciplines and vocational skills.
To date, Tiffen said EACOP has signed MoUs with Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK) as well as with professional bodies such as the Institute of Surveyors of Uganda to support the onboarding of graduate trainees with our contractors/suppliers and of interns with EACOP’s internal departments.
