Prioritize hiring Ugandans, Mayiga tells EACOP officials
Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister (Katikkiro) Charles Peter Mayiga poses for a photo with other kingdom and EACOP officials at Bulange, Mengo in Kampala on February 11, 2025. PHOTO/SHABIBAH NAKIRIGYA
What you need to know:
- Buganda Kingdom PM Peter Mayiga says the monarchy supports the development of Uganda’s oil sector.
Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister (Katikkiro) Charles Peter Mayiga has urged officials and implementers of the multi-billion shillings East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to prioritize hiring Ugandans in a bid to improve their standards of living.
Speaking during a media briefing following a courtesy visit by EACOP officials to Bulange- Mengo on Tuesday, Mayiga emphasized the need for EACOP to collaborate with the government to identify qualified nationals for the oil sector, rather than relying on non-citizens.
“We expect nationals to be the first priority when it comes to hiring, as we have both experts and casual workers ready to offer their skills,” Mayiga stated.
He added that Buganda Kingdom supports the development of Uganda’s oil sector but stressed the importance of ensuring that Ugandans benefit from it, leading to an improvement in their quality of life.
“We expect the government to allocate a portion of the oil revenue to improve service delivery nationwide, not just in Bunyoro Kingdom, where the oil is coming from. This is a concern for the entire country,” he said.
Mayiga also called for a strong focus on environmental conservation by EACOP, warning that neglecting this could worsen climate change in the long run.
Construction of the pipeline is expected to affect over 3,759 households, with 2,190 acres of land already demarcated in nine districts, spanning from Bunyoro to Tanga in Tanzania.
“We urge EACOP to ensure a solid partnership with the Buganda Kingdom, aimed at addressing the challenges faced by local communities in ongoing projects,” he added.
Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister (PM) Charles Peter Mayiga (R) meets with EACOP Executive Director Guollaume Dulout at Bulange-Mengo in Kampala on February 11, 2025. PHOTO/SHABIBAH NAKIRIGYA
Mayiga further emphasized the importance of protecting the environment in areas where forests, plantations, and water sources are affected by the pipeline.
EACOP Executive Director Guillaume Dulout responded by stating that the ongoing construction of the pipeline is expected to improve the incomes of people living in the affected areas.
“We plan to hire more Ugandans as we continue with the project. We’ve already hired some, but we expect to increase the number in the future,” he said.
Dulout also expressed appreciation for Buganda Kingdom’s support, noting that they “expect more Ugandans to benefit from the pipeline.”
