The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) company today hosted a crucial Supplier Development Forum at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, opening the door for Ugandan businesses to participate in upcoming opportunities for Electrical, Instrumentation, and Telecommunication Security (EITS).
The event, which gathered over 80 industry suppliers and stakeholders, underscored EACOP’s commitment to prioritising local participation and fostering a robust domestic supply chain.
Building Local Capacity and Unmanned Systems
In his remarks, EACOP Deputy Managing Director John Bosco Habumugisha emphasised the project’s long-term vision, which he said includes the development of sophisticated, unmanned systems like pump stations.
According to Habumugisha, who reaffirmed the company’s strong local content commitment, this focus on automation highlights the need for specialised skills.
“Whatever can be done locally by Ugandans will be done locally and safely,” he stated, assuring local suppliers that they would be given priority for contracts where they meet the necessary safety and quality standards.
He revealed that to support this commitment, EACOP has already invested in building local capacity, with over 82 graduate interns trained in Uganda to date.
This initiative, Habumugisha noted, is vital for creating a skilled workforce capable of handling the technical demands of a world-class infrastructure project.
Open Calls for Ugandan Suppliers
The forum’s EITS contractors highlighted two key Expressions of Interest (EOIs) that are currently open to suppliers:
Telecommunications and Security Systems
An EOI (Ref: 1113-EOI-SNEF-UG-TEL) for supervising the installation, hook-up, and commissioning activities in this critical area.
Electrical and Instrumentation
A second EOI (Ref: 1107-EOI-GFS-UG-ELE) is open for supervising installation, hook-up, and commissioning.
These opportunities are a direct pipeline for local companies to gain experience, secure contracts, and contribute to one of the region’s largest infrastructure projects.
The event concluded with James Musherure, the Senior National Content Officer at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), commending the collaborative efforts between EACOP, its contractors, and suppliers.
This partnership model, he observed, is critical for ensuring that the economic benefits of the project are widely distributed among Ugandan businesses.