Oil and Gas Industry leaders, TotalEnergies, Schlumberger, and the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) have donated specialized computer hardware and software to Nkumba University. The donation includes eight high-performance CPU towers and 16 advanced monitors, plus four licensed software programs.
The donation, which was delivered on Wednesday, 21st May 2025, is part of a partnership agreement signed between TotalEnergies EP Uganda (TEPU), Schlumberger (SLB), and Nkumba University, aimed at supporting the university’s efforts in building local capacity for the energy sector. According to TEPU’s National Content Manager, Ms. Rosette Komugisha, the initiative is part of TotalEnergies’ broader strategy to empower Ugandan Institutions to actively participate in the oil and gas sector.
“We aim to facilitate knowledge transfer and skills development. We are confident this partnership will play a key role in nurturing homegrown talent for Uganda’s oil and gas sector,” Ms. Komugisha said.
The training equipment is expected to enhance the practical learning experience of students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Petroleum and Minerals Geoscience, a program aimed at increasing Ugandan participation in the oil and gas industry. Nkumba University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jude Lubega, welcomed the support, describing it as a timely intervention that will strengthen the university’s ability to produce graduates with hands-on experience.
“These tools will offer our students and staff exposure to software solutions that are globally recognized and used in oil exploration and development. It positions Nkumba University as a Centre of excellence for Petroleum studies,” Prof. Lubega said.
Dr. Alex Barakagira, the Dean for the School of Sciences, thanked the partner organizations for the timely donation and urged students to make the most efficient use of the gadgets and ensure that they are jealously guarded for the benefit of those who will come after them.
The University has now been tasked with ensuring regular academic use of the tools and furnishing quarterly reports to the two companies on progress and outcomes. Monitoring of the equipment’s use will be done from France. The reports on the use will include: information on students trained, skills imparted, the number of simulations conducted, and overall impact.
Uganda is gearing up for its long-anticipated oil production, expected to commence in 2025. The country discovered an estimated 6.5 billion barrels of crude oil, with 1.4 billion barrels deemed recoverable. The oil reserves are concentrated in the Albertine Graben, a region near Lake Albert, which provides strategic access for exports.
To facilitate production, Uganda is developing key infrastructure projects, including the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil fields, which will house the bulk of the country’s oil extraction. Additionally, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is under construction to transport Uganda’s crude oil to international markets via Tanzania. The country also plans to refine a portion of its oil through the East African Refinery, reducing reliance on imported refined products.
As part of the preparation, emphasis has increasingly been placed on National Content and building local capacity to manage and benefit from the country’s oil resources. With this donation, Nkumba University becomes the latest Institution to benefit from industry investment in human capital development—an indication of growing collaboration between academia and the oil and gas sector.
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