200 Youths Enrolled in Specialized Petroleum Training Program at Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba

Summary:

• Two hundred youths from the Tilenga Training Academy are undergoing specialized training at the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK). This program, selected from 13,000 applicants who completed free online courses, aims to equip them with skills for the Tilenga project.

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Two hundred youths hailing from the Tilenga Training Academy have embarked on a new academic journey at the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK) in Kiryandongo district.

This cohort represents a selection from a pool of 13,000 applicants who engaged in the Tilenga Massive Open Online Courses, a tuition-free initiative launched in 2022.

Philippe Groueix, the General Manager of Total Energies Uganda, emphasized the significance of this two-and-a-half-year training program during its inauguration at Kigumba in Kiryandongo district. The program aims to equip these young individuals with internationally recognized skills tailored for employment in the Tilenga project.

The curriculum entails a diverse array of courses in oil and gas production and maintenance. Notably, 31 percent of the participants will specialize in production, 27 percent in mechanical maintenance, 26 percent in instrumentation maintenance, and 16 percent in electrical maintenance.

Groueix elaborated that after the initial training period, participants will further their education through sessions at esteemed international oil and gas training centers, supplemented by practical experience gained during the construction phase of the Tilenga project.

Ernest Rubondo, the Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), emphasized the regulatory body’s commitment to ensuring that UPIK upholds global standards in oil and gas training.

Rubondo underscored that the ultimate goal is for these trainees to acquire the necessary skills and competencies to contribute effectively to projects such as Tilenga, Kingfisher, and ECOP.

Bernard Ongodia, Principal of Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK), outlined the institute’s plan to initiate training according to approved offshore Petroleum Industry Organization standards. The initial six-month phase will focus on foundational training for production and maintenance technicians, specifically tailored for operations in the Tilenga fields, with specialization commencing thereafter.

Anxious Tumukunde, a student from Mbarara University pursuing petroleum engineering and environmental management, shared his journey from discovering the online call for applications during his fourth year to being selected for the training.

UPIK distinguishes itself as the sole institute boasting international accreditations from institutions such as the American Welding Society and Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) to deliver comprehensive petroleum-related courses.