CNOOC enhances livelihoods, donates to health centres and schools
KIKUUBE, September 2, 2025 – In a bid to empower communities living in the Lake Albertine Graben, oil and gas giant, China National Offshore Oil Corporation [CNOOC] through its appendage CNOOC Uganda is rolling out an innovative livelihood project aimed at fostering social and economic transformation.
According to Liu Xiangdong, President of CNOOC, the project is promoting agricultural initiatives, including rice and millet cultivation, piggery, and tree planting, within the company’s operational areas.
CNOOC operates the Kingfisher Oil Field in Buhuka Parish, Kyangwali Sub-county, in Kikuube District, located along the shores of Lake Albert.
The project has already benefited 125 individuals engaged in rice farming, 256 involved in dairy farming, and 376 participating in piggery activities.
Xiangdong highlighted that these initiatives are designed to promote agricultural modernisation, improve food security, increase household incomes, and contribute to environmental conservation through sustainable land use and afforestation efforts.
“With fish stocks in Lake Albert dwindling, this project will provide the local communities with alternative sources of income, reducing their dependency on fishing activities,” Xiangdong explained.
He further elaborated that the project integrates agriculture, livestock, and environmental management, with the aim of delivering long-term socio-economic benefits while building climate resilience. He stressed that the energy sector plays a crucial role in Uganda’s industrialisation, providing the foundation for a modern economy.
Xiangdong made these remarks on Friday during CNOOC’s donation of assorted medical equipment to the Buhuka Health Centre III and Kyangwali Health Centre IV in Kyangwali Subcounty, Kikuube district.
The donation, which includes hospital beds, hydraulic theatre operating tables, examination lights, blood pressure machines, diagnostic tools, instrument sets for outpatient departments [OPD], maternity units, and theatres, aims to strengthen healthcare services in the region. Other items include autoclaves, resuscitators, maternity bowl stands, bedside lockers, cupboards, and patient screens.
In addition to healthcare support, CNOOC is contributing to the improvement of education by providing 11 schools in the region with textbooks and desks.
Xiangdong noted that the donations followed an assessment which revealed that both healthcare and education sectors in Kikuube district were facing significant challenges and required substantial support.
“Buhuka Health Centre III will receive 52 sets of medical equipment, while Kyangwali Health Centre IV will receive 68 sets. These items have been carefully selected based on our assessments to enhance the capacity of healthcare workers and improve services for mothers, children, and families. By supporting healthcare, we are also contributing to Uganda’s national goals of reducing maternal and child mortality and improving equitable access to healthcare,” Xiangdong said.
He added that CNOOC’s educational support would help children learn in better-equipped environments, empowering them to realise their full potential.
“Education is equally critical for the future. By equipping schools with 400 desks and 880 textbooks, we aim to help children develop in a conducive learning environment,” Xiangdong remarked.
Praise for CNOOC’s Initiatives
Earnest Rubondo, Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda [PAU], commended CNOOC for its initiatives, emphasising that such projects are key to improving service delivery and the lives of local communities.
“This event marks another significant milestone in the partnership between the oil sector and the communities in which it operates. Many countries where oil is extracted face dissatisfaction because companies come in, extract the oil, and leave. But the government of Uganda, together with CNOOC, has prioritised services that go beyond oil and gas production,” Rubondo said.
Speaking as the Chief Guest, Peter Banura, Kikuube district LCV Chairperson expressed his excitement about the innovative livelihood project and the donation of medical equipment to health facilities.
He noted that the project is particularly timely, as local fishermen have been struggling to sustain their families due to government regulations and reduced fish stocks in Lake Albert.
“If the fishing community is trained, supported, and encouraged to engage in farming, they will have a reliable source of food and income for their households,” Banura said.
Commenting on the donations, Banura acknowledged the challenges faced by local healthcare facilities due to the reduction in donor funding, which has resulted in some partners withdrawing from the region.
“Due to cuts in health donor funding and the political situation globally, many of our partners have left, and some health centres have been handed over to the government. This has put a significant strain on the district. When CNOOC provides essential items for health centres and schools, it is a huge relief for us,” he added.
https://thecooperator.news/excitement-as-bunyoro-cnooc-amasaza-cup-tournament-resumes/
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