President YoweriMuseveni has today commissioned the construction of the Uganda Petroleum Institute, Kigumba (UPIK) in Bunyoro Sub-Region, with a strong appeal to all leaders and managers in the country to prioritize programmes that can lay a strong foundation for the sustainable development of Uganda.
The President was today performing a historic function of laying a foundation stone for the construction of the new petroleum institute at Kigumba in Kiryadongo district that will churn out students of international quality in issues pertaining to petroleum development.
The institute that is currently being hosted by the Uganda Cooperative College, Kigumba has 60 students who are undertaking a 2-year diploma course in Petroleum Engineering and are being instructed by Ugandan technocrats in the same field.
The Institute is sharing the oil exploration experience with the Caribbean government of Trinidad and Tobago as well as that of Norway. The two countries possess a rich and extensive experience in oil exploration.
President Museveni pointed out that in a country like Uganda, whose economy had totally collapsed, prioritization of programmes is very crucial given the scarcity of resources at its disposal. He commended the government of Trinidad and Tobago as well as that of Norway for sharing with Uganda, their rich experience in oil exploration.
President Museveni also pledged to complete the renovation of the Uganda Cooperative College in Kigumba.
Turning to the people of Kiryadongo district, the President pledged to work on the road to Gulu and also that one leading to Kagadi as resources are now available.
He congratulated the people of the area for working hard to realize a bumper harvest and promised to avail them with maize mills and animal and chicken feed mills for value addition to maize.
The President, who is also the National Chairman of the NRM, welcomed to the Movement all those who crossed from other parties in the last general elections and promised to meet them soon.
Earlier, Mr. Museveni toured the pre-fabricated buildings, visited the renovated buildings at the Uganda Co-operative College and acknowledged greetings from the students of the institution. He was conducted around by the Director of the Uganda Industrial Research Institute, Professor Charles Kwesiga, who pledged to complete the new Petroleum Institute within 2 years.
Others present included the Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Jessica Alupo several cabinet Ministers, MPs from the region, the Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner to Uganda, Ambassador Patrick Edward, among others.
Sign up below to get the latest updates from State House Uganda by email.