12th October 2022

SUPPORT EACOP FOR TRANSFORMATION OF OUR REGION

Uganda National Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (UNABCEC) is a 29-year-old Non-Profit, Member-Driven, National Trade Association of Genuine Contractors, and other Organizations engaged in Construction Contracting in Uganda. Our core purpose is “The commitment to improving performance in the Construction Industry by championing better regulation and enhancing operational integrity.”

UNABCEC joins the nation of Uganda in celebrating the already discovered 6.4Bn Barrels of Oil Reserves, of which approximately 1.4 Bn is now commercially feasible. The exploration of the Albertine Graben is paying off, even if it is only 10% at the moment. It is with great pride and anticipation that we joyfully recognize the 1,443 Kms world longest heated pipeline, with its 230,000 BPD export capacity, which will make Uganda the seventh biggest exporter of crude oil in Africa. This is reason for regional excitement and significance. And as we patiently anticipate the first drop of the product in 2025, we are all enthusiastic of the outcome—that it will boost the East-African economic landscape, and Uganda being the home.

The Association is pleased to note that a section of her members are already engaged in the execution of works on various components of the oil projects, and who employ thousands of Ugandans and pay millions in taxes. We are proud to list that these members include, without limit to; SBI/Colas on the construction of the Kabale Airport in Hoima District; Mota Engil (U) Ltd, Excell Construction Ltd, Kato Contractors Ltd, Prand Engineering Ltd, Civtec Africa, Pearl Engineering Co. Ltd, Wim Services Ltd, Epsilon (U) Ltd and Technical Masters Ltd. These have signed Multi-Million Dollars’ contracts in the exploration of the God-given resource in the Tilenga and Kingfisher projects.

It is equally exciting that Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) is implementing the critical road infrastructure, where many of our members are participating—some have already completed their assignments. The National Oil Roads, which are central in the strategic implementation of NDP III, are among the many other reasons Ugandans are excited; especially because of the already created attendant linkages—including promotion of tourism & trade in the region.

UNABCEC truly welcomes the move by Government in allowing the Local Content, as enshrined in the EACOP law, where 40% of contracts are reserved for Local Contractors. This is an expression of Government of Uganda’s effort towards capacity building of the developing Construction Industry in the young Oil & Gas Sector. Accordingly, the Association continuously engages with stakeholders such as PAU, and in joint venture partnership with other larger companies; in showcasing the spirit concord, transparency, responsibility and success of the promising projects.

The Association takes particular cognizance of the beautiful Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) which was passed by NEMA, along with the commitment to providing state of the art technologies that are necessary to engender best practices in sustainable and responsible exploitation of the resources. It is even more delightful that these regulatory factors have already been adopted by Joint Venture companies of TOTAL ENERGIES, CNOOC, EACOP and the two Sovereign States of Uganda and Tanzania. Thus, responsible and sustainable engineering best practices are being observed in the EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) period, giving the region confidence as the effort to comply with the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are demonstrated.

Suffice to say that engineering, being the science and art of harnessing available resources in the effort towards solving humankind problems, the verified abstraction of this underground energy is evidently being viewed; not just as pivotal for the transformation of the people of Uganda and the East-African Region, but it also being done in a responsible manner. Hence, it will go a long way for the sustainable aspiration of wider humankind and the environment—attesting that, humanity being the dominant creature, must continue to take center stage at irresponsible engineering; as the good book says, we are blessed to:

“…Be fruitful and to multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over …” [Gen 1:26–28].

As an Association of Genuine Contractors in Uganda, we pledge our support towards the development of the EACOP, Kingfisher & Tilenga Projects and towards the first drop in 2025.

*End of statement*

Signed by;

JamesOne Olonya, President

Elizabeth Muhebwa, Executive Director