CNOOC Uganda Limited, an energy company, has completed the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Drivers Training and Licensing Program.
The program involved training, licensing, and certifying 110 drivers to professionally operate heavy goods trucks and trailers (Class CH License) or rigid trucks (Class CM License) in accordance with the East African Community curriculum.
The training was conducted by the Uganda Driving Standards Agency (UDSA) in partnership with Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom (BKK) on behalf of CNOOC to address skills gaps in logistics and transportation, especially in Uganda’s oil and gas sector.
The selection of trainees was carried out in collaboration with Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, which provided the training grounds and supported the identification and selection of trainees from eight districts: Kikuube, Hoima, Masindi, Buliisa, Kiryandongo, Kakumiro, Kibaale, and Kagadi, together with the contractor UDSA.
The partnership with Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom also aimed to enhance community content for potential beneficiaries from the Bunyoro Sub-Region, which hosts the Kingfisher Project.
The primary objective of this training was to equip Ugandan HGV drivers with the necessary skills and support them in obtaining the required driving licenses (Class CH License for trucks and trailers or Class CM License for rigid trucks) to be eligible for transportation and logistics-related jobs in the oil and gas and other sectors.
Ma Peixin, Vice President of CNOOC Uganda Limited, said, “I wish to congratulate all the drivers upon successful completion of the training. We thank the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, our key stakeholders, for their partnership during this training. We are optimistic that the training will enhance the knowledge and practice of professional driving in line with international standards for HGV drivers.”
Ernest Rubondo, the Executive Director of PAU, stated, “As we all know, safety is the cornerstone of our profession. Every day, you are entrusted with the responsibility of handling large vehicles, transporting goods, and ensuring the safety of everyone on the road. It’s not just about getting from point A to point B—it’s about doing so with care, precision, and a commitment to protecting yourself and others.”
“We are grateful for the partnership between CNOOC Uganda Limited and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, and we look forward to more opportunities to work together. We want our people to be skilled enough so that we can benefit from the oil and gas resources,” said the Bunyoro Prime Minister, Andrew Byakutuga Ateenyi.
Asraf Bagada, a graduate trainee, thanked CNOOC Uganda Limited for the support provided, which has enabled them to acquire hands-on key skills such as defensive driving, proper road usage, flexible and smooth acceleration, and driver discipline, among others. “We feel that we are ready to tap into the HGV jobs that the oil and gas sector brings forth,” he added.
According to the trainers, the three-month program has provided an interactive forum to share, explore, and discuss concepts and issues related to heavy goods driving and road safety.
As an energy company with a strong sense of social responsibility, CNOOC Uganda Limited is committed to promoting national content to enable Ugandans to tap into the opportunities in the oil and gas sector.
