Hoima: CNOOC Uganda Limited has completed the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers Training and Licensing Program. The program involved 110 drivers being trained, Licensed and certified to professionally drive 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 executed by Uganda Driving Standards Agency (UDSA) in partnership with Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom (BKK) on behalf of CNOOC to meet the skills gaps in the logistics and transportation competencies especially in the oil and gas sector in Uganda.
Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom also provided training grounds, supported the identification and selection of trainees from 8 districts of Kikuube, Hoima, Masindi, Buliisa, Kiryandongo, Kakumiro, Kibaale and Kagadi together with the contractor UDSA.
This aimed at Community content enhancement for potential beneficiaries from the Bunyoro Sub-Region that hosts the Kingfisher Project.
The key objective of this training was to enhance Ugandan HGV drivers with required skills and support them to obtain required driving licenses (class CH license for truck and trailer or class CM license for rigid trucks) so that they are eligible for transportation and logistics related jobs in the oil & gas and other sectors.
Ma Peixin, Vice President CNOOC Uganda Limited said; “I wish to congratulate all the drivers upon successful completion of the training. We thank Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, our key stakeholders for the partnership during this training. We are optimistic that the training will enhance the knowledge and practice of professional driving in line with the international standards for HGV drivers.”
Ernest Rubondo, the Executive Director, PAU stated that, “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 of working together. We want our people to be skilled enough so that we can gain from the oil and gas resource,” said the Bunyoro Prime Minister, Andrew Byakutuga Ateenyi.
Asraf Bagada, a graduate trainee thanked CNOOC Uganda Limited for the support rendered to them which has enabled them acquire hands on key skills like defensive driving, proper road usage, flexible and smooth acceleration, driver discipline among others. We feel that we are ready to tap into the HG jobs that oil and gas bring forth.
According to the trainers, the three months program has provided an interactive forum to share, explore and discuss concepts and issues of heavy goods driving and road safety.