Okuonga Boniface Opiyo
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) – Nkumba University Chapter held its Semester General Meeting on Wednesday, 23rd April 2025, at the School of Sciences TF3A.
Members gathered to reflect on the society’s February 2025 semester activities, revisiting the society’s efforts in promoting petroleum engineering and providing a platform for students to develop their skills and knowledge.
In her opening remarks, Jane Melisa Kiwummulo, the Chapter’s President, expressed gratitude to members for their support and active participation in the society’s activities throughout the semester. She singled out the successful workshop on essay writing with Mr. Daniel David Bwambale, a seasoned writer and activist, which attracted students from Kyambogo and King Caesar universities.
“We had a massive turnout, and the Google Meet workshop was a huge success,” Kiwummulo said. She also rallied members to make early preparations for the upcoming Oil and Skills Expo in August, with the goal of emerging as the overall winners.
The society’s Project Coordinator, Wokorach Roy, revealed plans to introduce hydraulic fracturing as their August 2025 intake project. “Hydraulic fracturing is a process through which high-pressure water is injected into the ground, creating pores between rocks to enable a steady flow of oil to the earth’s surface,” Roy explained.
The society has been actively involved in projects that provide students with practical skills, including carbon capture, storage, and utilization, which was exhibited at the SPE Annual Students Technical Conference and Exhibition (SASTCE) held in March 2025 at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
In a bid to strengthen the SPE’s online presence, Kamuza Calvin, the SPE Web Master, announced that the society is in advanced stages of creating a website to relay more information to members. The society already has a YouTube channel and a TikTok account with over 500 followers.
Rachael Nimusiima, the Treasurer, thanked members for their contributions that made the production of the society’s revamped t-shirts. The new design features the SPE’s international logo and is expected to make the society more vibrant within and beyond Nkumba University.
The Vice President, Kabugho Sandrine Yunasi, expressed gratitude to members for attending the meeting but demanded more commitment from members to fulfill the society’s activities.
The SPE Nkumba University Chapter is part of the broader Society of Petroleum Engineers, an international non-profit organization that has been connecting professionals in the oil and gas sector since 1957. The chapter currently has 95 members and plans to carry out sensitization drives within the university to increase membership and promote the society’s activities.
