Uganda’s Oil and Gas Sector Positioned as Catalyst for Wider Economic Transformation
KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s oil and gas sector is steadily becoming a key driver of national transformation, creating jobs, building skills, and unlocking opportunities across multiple sectors of the economy, government officials announced at the opening of the 3rd Annual Oil and Gas Skills Expo at Makerere University.
Represented by Under Secretary Grace Tusiime, Energy and Mineral Development Minister Ruth Nankabirwa said the country is strategically leveraging its petroleum resources to accelerate industrialisation, innovation, enterprise development and long-term socio-economic progress.
Held under the theme “From Oil and Gas to the Wider Economy: Transferable Skills Driving Sustainable Growth,” the Expo brought together government institutions, industry players, academia, development partners, students and young professionals to discuss workforce readiness and the future of skills development in Uganda’s petroleum sector.
Billions in Investment, Thousands of Jobs
The Minister revealed that since the Final Investment Decision in 2022, Uganda’s petroleum sector has attracted over USD 15 billion (approximately UGX 75 trillion) in investment, stimulating growth in construction, transport, ICT, manufacturing, agriculture, financial services, hospitality and education.
More than 21,000 Ugandans have so far been employed in the sector, with over 90 percent of the workforce being Ugandan — a figure the Minister highlighted as proof of the success of government’s national content policy in ensuring meaningful citizen participation.
Skills Development and Transferability
Over 14,000 Ugandans have received specialised training in key technical fields including welding, fabrication, engineering, heavy machinery operation, health and safety, logistics, and environmental management. According to the Minister, these skills are transferable to sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, mining, transport and manufacturing.
New Policy Framework and Legislation
The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring that petroleum resources support sustainable national development, citing the recently launched National Petroleum Policy 2025, which prioritises skills development, technology transfer, innovation and stronger collaboration between industry and training institutions.
She also disclosed that government is developing the Local Content Development Fund Bill for the oil and gas industry to establish a dedicated fund aimed at supporting skills development, enterprise growth, technology transfer and increased participation of Ugandans in petroleum activities.
A Call to Young People
The Minister urged young people to seize the opportunities presented by the sector by embracing technical skills, innovation, discipline and professionalism, noting that Uganda’s energy future requires a skilled workforce ready to compete globally.
The 3rd Annual Oil and Gas Skills Expo continues as a platform to strengthen partnerships between government, private sector and academia, while advancing the role of transferable skills in driving Uganda’s wider economic transformation.
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