Kampala, Uganda – Uganda’s oil and gas education landscape has received a major boost as TotalEnergies EP Uganda and global oilfield services company SLB (formerly Schlumberger) handed over high-end computer hardware and specialised oil and gas training software to Makerere University, Kyambogo University, and Nkumba University.
The donation, valued at over USD 200,000 (UGX 770 million), is part of a broader commitment by the two companies to help build local capacity in Uganda’s fast-growing energy sector. The support includes eight fully equipped computer stations per university — complete with tower servers, monitors, and peripherals — alongside four world-class petroleum engineering and geoscience software platforms: Petrel, Techlog, Eclipse, and Petromod.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Mr. Philippe Groueix, General Manager of TotalEnergies EP Uganda, said the investment is part of the company’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education.
“Over the years, we have placed great emphasis on supporting educational institutions such as Makerere and Kyambogo to enhance training in oil and gas, and today’s handover is a further step in this direction,” Mr. Groueix said.
The new software tools are key to practical, hands-on training in petroleum geoscience, drilling, reservoir simulation, and field development planning, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world industry applications.
SLB’s Managing Director for East and South Africa, Mr. Valerian Pfrimmer, highlighted the significance of the tools, noting that they are used in real-world upstream operations globally.
“These platforms are essential for real-world operations, and they cover the full spectrum of exploration and production,” Mr. Pfrimmer said.
In addition to the software donation, SLB will train academic staff from the three institutions in July 2025 to ensure effective use of the platforms. The licenses will be renewed annually, ensuring sustained use and relevance.
Academic leaders from the beneficiary universities welcomed the support with appreciation. Prof. Juma Kasozi from Makerere University, Dr. John Okuonzi of Kyambogo University, and Prof. Jude T. Lubega of Nkumba University described the initiative as timely and transformative, especially as the country advances toward full-scale oil production in the Albertine Graben.
Also in attendance were key stakeholders from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Joint Venture Partners CNOOC and the Uganda National Oil Company, as well as representatives from the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd.
This donation complements other long-term capacity-building projects by TotalEnergies, including the Tilenga Academy — a flagship training hub designed to equip Ugandans with world-class oil and gas skills — and internship programmes that place students in both local and international industry environments.
The initiative reinforces ongoing efforts by the government and private sector to ensure national content development, a key pillar in Uganda’s oil and gas development agenda.
As the country approaches first oil, investments in human capital like this are seen as crucial for empowering Ugandans to take on technical roles in one of East Africa’s largest infrastructure and energy projects.
