Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK) today marked a significant milestone as 42 Ugandan trainees and employees of CNOOC Uganda Limited successfully completed a seven-month Production Technician Training Programme.

The programme equipped the trainees with industry-relevant knowledge, practical skills and competencies across four key disciplines: Production Operations, Mechanical Maintenance, Electrical Maintenance and Instrumentation Maintenance. Through classroom learning, practical training, competency assessments and field exposure, the trainees are now better prepared to support operations at the Kingfisher Development Area and to contribute to Uganda’s growing oil and gas industry.

In his message to the graduates, UPIK Principal Mr. Bernard Ongodia reminded them that completing the programme marks the beginning of greater professional responsibility rather than the end of learning. He urged them to uphold competence, discipline, integrity, teamwork, safety and continuous learning, and to demonstrate through their performance that Ugandans can work responsibly and to international industry standards while protecting people, equipment and the environment.

“Never compromise between production and safety; no task is so urgent that it cannot be done safely.” —Bernard Ongodia, UPIK Principal

Mr. Su Bin, Head of the CNOOC Oilfield On-site Team (OTT), congratulated the trainees on successfully completing the programme and encouraged them to put the knowledge and skills acquired during the training into practice. He emphasized three key principles as they transition into the workplace: putting safety first, continuing to learn and improve, and believing in themselves and their ability to perform.

The CNOOC Uganda Limited Human Resources team, represented by Shifra Kajugiira Nakunda and Faith Nayebare, congratulated the trainees on successfully completing the programme and commended their good performance, discipline and teamwork throughout the training. They encouraged the graduates to appreciate the opportunity and support they received, to maintain discipline and team spirit in the workplace, and to remain committed to continuous learning and professional growth as they begin the next phase of their careers.

CNOOC Project Coordinator Ms. Michelle Akiiki Kyomukyeya also congratulated the trainees on reaching this important milestone and expressed appreciation to CNOOC Uganda Limited Management and UPIK Management for their support, commitment and collaboration in enabling the successful completion of the project. She also acknowledged the collective efforts of the trainers, coordinators and support teams who contributed to the success of the seven-month training journey.

The successful completion of the programme demonstrates the strong partnership between UPIK and CNOOC Uganda Limited in developing a competent, safety-conscious and industry-ready Ugandan workforce, while strengthening national content, skills development and localisation within Uganda’s petroleum industry.

Congratulations to all 42 graduates, and sincere appreciation to the UPIK instructors, management, support staff and CNOOC Uganda Limited teams, whose commitment, cooperation and teamwork made this seven-month training journey a success.