The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd, in partnership with its Tier One Pipeline construction contractor, China Petroleum Pipeline (CPP), has launched a university scholarship program aimed at supporting talented but underprivileged engineering students in Uganda.
The initiative will provide financial assistance to 28 students from Makerere University and Kyambogo University, enabling them to complete their studies and pursue careers in the oil and gas sector. Seven of the beneficiaries hail from the 10 districts traversed by the pipeline.
EACOP said the selection process was rigorous, based on academic performance, financial need, passion for engineering, and commitment to community impact.
“This program demonstrates our continued investment in the future of Uganda’s engineering talent and our dedication to national content development,” said Eileen Baguma, EACOP’s HR & Corporate Affairs Director.
“We are not only building infrastructure but also creating opportunities for young Ugandans to thrive in the oil and gas sector.”
The scholarship program builds on EACOP’s broader national content strategy, which includes partnerships with academic and professional institutions such as the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK), Makerere University, Kyambogo University, and the Institute of Surveyors of Uganda.
So far, EACOP and its contractors have taken several steps to build local capacity, including enrolling 82 graduate trainees and delivering over 530 hours of training to lecturers, professors, and technicians under the “Train the Trainer” initiative. These efforts are designed to equip Uganda’s education system with the latest technologies and best practices in the energy sector.
The company noted that such programs are crucial to ensuring that the EACOP project, which spans Uganda and Tanzania, leaves a legacy of sustainable skills development and knowledge transfer in addition to physical infrastructure.