President Yoweri Museveni recently said government might consider hiring experienced labour from other oil producing countries because of the current shortfall in the skills needed for the sector.
Mr Museveni urged the investors to set up private technical schools to train and skill Ugandans in oil and gas activities.
Now, tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia’s Victoria University and Coventry University (United Kingdom) have signed a memorandum which will see both institutions partner to deliver high quality Education especially in the oil and gas sector.
The need for local content is part of the component agreed upon by the Government and Oil Companies.
The Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza told journalists on Monday that failure to provide Ugandans experts to work in the sector will compel the Oil Companies to ‘import’ foreign labour.
On Monday while signing the memorandum for Victoria University was the Victoria’s Vice Chancellor Doctor Kvinhna N. Sharma told the media, “It is a big opportunity for Victoria University as we are ready to contribute to this so fast growing Oil and Gas sector.”
He added: “We need to build up the capacity of the Ugandans so that when the companies come, they don’t go out to look for human resource.”
In this partnership, the role of Victoria University is to mobilise the instructors and provide training to the people, as guided by the Education Ministry.
Mr Bernard Ongodia, the Principle of the Uganda Institute of Petroleum, said in order for one to be certified to participate in the oil industry, there was need for some experience.
“Certification has a time frame, you need to be working in order to get certified,” he said.
