The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), in collaboration with its partner, China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPP), has provided scholarships to 28 engineering students from Kyambogo and Makerere universities. Kyambogo University received eighteen scholarships, while Makerere University was awarded ten. The scholarship covers tuition and functional fees. All recipients are second-year students, and the scholarship is awarded for a period of three years. The launch of this scholarship took place at Sheraton Hotel, Kampala, on Friday, September 5, 2025.

EACOP’s Corporate Affairs and HR Director, Ms. Irene Baguma, representing the MD, noted that this is a joint programme with EACOP and CPP (Uganda). She revealed that the awardees underwent a rigorous selection process; the aim is to utilise engineering as a catalyst for change. She encouraged students to be good ambassadors of their families, communities, and Uganda, and expressed appreciation to universities and parents for partnering with them to build a sustainable future together.

 The Kyambogo University students who received the scholarship

S/N Name Programme Gender
1.      OKELLO JOEL Patrick BEEE M
2.      BIYINZIKA SYLVIA BCHE F
3.      AGABA RODIN BCBE F
4.      AYEBALE VIVIAN CHARITY BCHE F
5.      AINOMUGISHA MARK BLESSING BEMME M
6.      WABEDDE TREVOR BEEE M
7.      WASSWA HERBERT BEAPE M
8.      SAMBWA KAUTHARAH BEEE M
9.      AKENA DESMOND WARREN BEAPE M
10.   OKWARE DESIRE SILVERSON BEAPE M
11.   KASIRIVU JAMES BEEE M
12.   NANGALAMA JOEL BEEEM M
13.   TAMITI HENRY BEEE M
14.   LUBEGA ANDREW JOSEPH BEEE M
15.   TURINAWE DERRICK BEEE M
16.   KARUSHURI JORDAN BEMME M
17.   AKAMPURIRA GOODLUCK BCBE M
18.   AWAY GODWIN BETE M

The Deputy Pipeline Manager, CPP, stated that they believe the greatest investment should be in education to lay a foundation for lasting progress. They focused on students facing challenges in paying tuition, despite achieving better performance, and yet still struggling to pay tuition fees. The selection also considered students from neighbouring districts near the oil region to ensure that local communities benefit from this scholarship.

He appreciated universities for partnering with them to build the next generation of skilled engineers and referred to the students as ambassadors of hope, knowledge, and progress. He encouraged the beneficiaries to view this not as a personal benefit, but as a benefit for their families, communities, and Uganda. He told them that the future is in their hands, and they should make the most of it.

Beneficiaries Speak out

Ms. Esther Nekesa from Makerere University, studying for a degree in Mechanical Engineering, appreciated EACOP and CPP for opening doors that they had only dreamed of, and pledged to work towards making the sponsors proud. She said this scholarship is more than financial support; it is a promise of a future, an assurance of a career, and she pledged to reach her desired destination. She said the selection process was fair and transparent, considering the rigour involved from start to finish. She promised to give back to society as a way of showing gratitude to the sponsors who supported them, even though they did not know them.

Okello Joel Patrick, a student of Electrical Engineering at Kyambogo University, described this scholarship as a hope renewed, a dream coming to life. He believes that with this support, they will succeed and transform lives, as the scholarship relieves a heavy burden from their parents’ shoulders and provides them with a sense of security. He stated that this scholarship symbolises a partnership between Uganda and China, as well as between students and their communities. On behalf of the students, he committed to helping uplift the country. He emphasised that this scholarship is not an entitlement but a trust between them, their families, communities, and the nation. He expressed gratitude to the partners and universities for inspiring hope and entrusting them with their future.

Assoc. Prof Maria Kasule Kizito, representing the Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University, noted that out of the 28 students, only six are female. He noted that females have been underrepresented in science programmes. He suggested that perhaps there should be affirmative action to ensure that females are more represented in these programmes.  He appreciated the partnership between academia and industry, noting that training scientists is not easy, given the requirement for skills development. He added that such financial support from industry is welcome. He concluded by saying that there’s a need for a clear policy compelling all foreign companies operating in Uganda to support and employ Ugandan students.

Dr. Charles Onyutha, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and representing the Vice-Chancellor of Kyambogo University, praised EACOP and CPP for awarding scholarships to our students, setting a good example that other companies should follow. He also emphasised the importance of a robust policy to ensure all companies prioritise student training. He concluded by saying that the faculty will monitor the students’ progress to ensure value for money, encouraging them to aim for first-class results.

Eng. Linda Muhumuza, representing the Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Energy, appreciated the scholarship of these students and their commitment to the transformative development of the Energy Sector. He said this dedication will leave a lasting legacy, as it creates a skilled workforce that will shape the future. He added that this aligns with the local content policy outlined in Vision 2040.

 

 

Tags: , , , , ,