The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Industry Enhancement Centre (IEC) to reinforce their shared commitment to advancing National Content initiatives and enhancing the capacity of Ugandan Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
The IEC was established in 2024 by TotalEnergies EP Uganda (TEPU), in partnership with China National Offshore Oil Corporation Uganda Limited (CNOOC) and Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), following recommendations from the 2013 Industrial Baseline Survey (IBS), which highlighted the need to strengthen local participation in the oil and gas sector.
IEC’s core objectives are to support Ugandan enterprises in effectively engaging with the sector, diversifying their services and workforce, and promoting sustainable growth through training, advisory services, and consultancy on business operations and financing.
Under this strategic partnership, EACOP Ltd. and IEC will collaborate on the timely dissemination of opportunities from EACOP, its contractors, and subcontractors to local companies within IEC’s networks.
They will also conduct IEC-led trainings, outreach programs, stakeholder engagements, and other capacity- and skills-development initiatives across Kampala and other districts in Uganda. Additionally, EACOP’s network will be extended to IEC’s contractors, subcontractors, and stakeholders to support the Centre’s programs and services.
This MoU builds on EACOP’s ongoing efforts to strengthen local participation. To date, EACOP and its contractors have signed MoUs with various professional and industry training institutions, including the Institute of Surveyors of Uganda and the Uganda Industrial Research Institute.
The company has also partnered with tertiary institutions such as the Uganda Petroleum Institute, Kigumba (UPIK), Makerere University, and Kyambogo University. These strategic collaborations demonstrate EACOP’s continued commitment to promoting local participation and maximizing value retention through its project activities.
Speaking at the signing event, JB Habumugisha, Deputy Managing Director of EACOP Ltd., said that the partnership with IEC underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to empowering Ugandan businesses and maximizing local content.
He noted that by working together, EACOP and IEC aim to create opportunities for SMEs to grow, compete, and sustainably contribute to the oil and gas sector and the broader economy.
Jimmy Mugerwa, Managing Director of Zoramu Consulting Group said the collaboration with EACOP Ltd. will provide Ugandan enterprises with the training, guidance, and networks they need to thrive.
He noted that the MoU represents a significant step forward in building local capacity and ensuring that Ugandan companies are key players in the development of the country’s oil and gas industry.
This strategic collaboration reinforces both organizations’ commitment to sustainable development, local content maximization, and long-term capacity building for Ugandan SMEs.
