With over 75% of its inhabitants beneath the age of 30, Uganda’s younger individuals are essential components within the nation’s financial trajectory. Recognising the necessity to harness this potential, TotalEnergies, in partnership with the Society of Petroleum Engineers, convened a youth engagement discussion board to debate how younger Ugandans can play a higher position within the nation’s evolving power panorama. The second within the sequence, this yr’s “Youth in Vitality” convention, held beneath the theme “Consciousness to Motion: Youth Shaping Uganda’s Vitality Transition,” introduced collectively over 300 college students, academia and trade stakeholders to change insights on abilities improvement, innovation and participation within the oil, gasoline and renewable power sectors, and near 500 folks linked stay.
In her keynote tackle Marième-Sav Sow, Vice President for engagement and advocacy at TotalEnergies EP Africa, challenged younger Africans to assert their place on the decision-making tables the place the continent’s power future will probably be formed, stressing that those that will stay with the results of at the moment’s selections should even be a part of designing them. “We can not let the long run be designed by those that received’t stay in it,” she mentioned, urging youth to carry their creativity, braveness and concepts into enterprise, coverage and innovation for a simply power transition.
Sow argued that Africa’s pathway to carbon neutrality have to be guided by equity and in cognisance of the continent’s specific circumstances. Whereas the continent contributes least to world emissions, it faces the harshest impacts of local weather change. She referred to as this a “generational alternative to redefine improvement,” insisting that Africa has the sovereign proper to make use of its pure sources responsibly to energy colleges, hospitals and industries whereas pursuing renewable options. She mentioned that Uganda’s youth aren’t simply stakeholders however “chief architects” of the continent’s sustainable power future.
Pioneers of progress
Underscoring TotalEnergies’ position as a associate on this transition, Sow pointed to initiatives such because the Tilenga coaching academy, which has geared up lots of of younger Ugandans with internationally recognised technical abilities and investments in photo voltaic photovoltaics, hydropower, liquefied petroleum gasoline (LPG) and e-mobility. She praised younger Ugandans for the contributions they’re already making, calling them “pioneers” of progress and urged younger girls specifically to grasp their craft, search mentors and lead with confidence.
Talking throughout a panel dialogue, Esther Ninsiima, a geologist on the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, highlighted authorities efforts to organize younger Ugandans to take part within the nation’s oil and gasoline trade forward of first oil in 2026. “As a authorities, we’re taking a look at empower the youth now to maneuver past the primary oil into the manufacturing part and afterward,” she mentioned.
Clear power with realism
Talking on the nation’s power future, Peter Muliisa, Chief Authorized and Company Affairs Officer on the Uganda Nationwide Oil Firm, defined that whereas the worldwide shift to wash power is inevitable, it have to be approached with realism and planning. “When you flipped the power combine at the moment from 83% petroleum, civilisation as we all know it will collapse,” he mentioned, cautioning that the transition to renewables requires time, coordination and technological development. Muliisa referred to as on youth to interact meaningfully with the method, “to contribute to it, or to problem it,” as Uganda defines its personal power transition pathway in alignment with world local weather objectives.
Muliisa outlined Uganda’s rationale for growing its petroleum sources regardless of worldwide scrutiny, stressing that the nation’s strategy is rooted in financial necessity and power justice. “Uganda is economically poor and power poor, and we should tackle these two factors of poverty with each useful resource accessible to us,” he mentioned.
He careworn that Uganda’s oil improvement is being achieved “responsibly,” guided by insurance policies and legal guidelines that minimise emissions and guarantee environmental integrity. In line with him, Uganda’s crude oil initiatives rank among the many lowest on the planet in carbon depth, with solely 13.3 kg of carbon dioxide emitted per barrel produced, the second-lowest globally. “We’re displaying the world which you can develop your sources to develop your folks, however do it in a way that’s accountable,” he mentioned.
Muliisa additionally detailed efforts to additional cut back emissions by means of tree planting, liquefied petroleum gasoline (LPG) promotion and clear cooking programmes to cut back deforestation. He praised younger Ugandans for his or her position in defending the nation’s proper to responsibly develop its sources amid world criticism. “There was quite a lot of misinformation,” he recalled, “however we should proceed to equip the youth with data so that they tackle these points from some extent of understanding.”
Zion Okama, head of renewable energies initiatives at TotalEnergies EP Uganda, urged the youth to take a proactive curiosity in understanding Uganda’s power transition plan, noting that consciousness of such coverage frameworks may help them establish the place to place themselves for future alternatives. “A few of this info is probably not well-known, however the youth additionally should be inquisitive for data,” he mentioned.
He cited the Bujagali hydropower plant, through which TotalEnergies now holds a 28% stake, as a mannequin of native participation in renewable power operations.
The power, which produces 250 MW of fresh energy, has been run nearly completely by Ugandans for the previous 15 years. “These Ugandans had been skilled regionally and have constructed their experience in-country,” Okama famous, calling this a transparent demonstration that “there are actual jobs in renewables in Uganda.”
Okama introduced that TotalEnergies is growing 40 MW of photo voltaic initiatives, set to start development subsequent yr, creating jobs for youth in varied technical trades.
Encouraging younger folks to organize for such roles, he pointed to the photo voltaic technician certification programme at Makerere College for instance of the form of coaching that will give them a bonus.
“Sure, there are alternatives for the youth in employment and profession improvement,” he mentioned, “however you should be sure you are prepared when these alternatives materialise.”
Collaboration is essential to advancing youth participation
Justina Erastus, Convener of the Youth Oil and Gasoline Summit in Namibia, mentioned collaboration is essential to advancing youth participation and capability constructing within the power sector. Drawing parallels between Namibia and Uganda, she famous that the 2 international locations share comparable power journeys and demographic profiles and subsequently have a lot to study from one another.
Strategic partnerships
“What Uganda has efficiently been good at, Namibia can study from,” she mentioned, calling for strategic partnerships between universities, nationwide oil corporations and youth-led organisations. She underlined that such collaborations promote abilities switch, mentorship and funding, in the end strengthening native experience and aligning each international locations with world finest practices.
Erastus inspired the youth to innovate, excel and persevere. “One of the simplest ways to get into the room is to knock on the door and never look ahead to the chance to come back to you,” she mentioned, urging younger folks to establish issues of their communities and resolve them creatively.
Talking throughout a second panel dialogue, Sandra Kirenga, partnership and programme coordinator on the Personal Sector Basis Uganda, argued that Uganda’s power transition just isn’t merely an environmental crucial however a method to financial transformation, industrialisation and local weather resilience.
Lively gamers
Gideon Kibirige, Chairperson of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (Uganda), pointed to the winners of TotalEnergies’ current hackathon, younger engineers and geologists who developed good grid and IoT-based power monitoring options for electrical car charging.
“Your pals are doing photo voltaic microgrids; they’re creating IoT [internet of things] techniques,” he mentioned. “You can even create your personal area; you don’t have to attend for somebody to provide the microphone.”
He additionally emphasised the facility of networking and engagement, urging college students to attend conferences, be part of skilled golf equipment and contribute to coverage discussions. “You have got a voice,” he mentioned. “When there’s public participation, converse.”
Michael Musinguzi, Lead Era Specialist at Q-Sourcing Servtec Group, reminded the viewers that the power sector doesn’t require solely engineers. “There are roles in procurement, administration, logistics and hospitality.” He pointed to how oil and gasoline initiatives have catalysed progress in different sectors, from sports activities services and lodges to development and power administration.
From the ground: considerations included entry to jobs
Responding to the audio system, the younger folks raised points such because the mismatch between educational studying and employability, notably the demand for years of expertise even for entry-level roles. They referred to as for earlier publicity to internships and sensible coaching inside diploma programmes to bridge this hole.
A number of questioners additionally addressed challenges round innovation, together with restricted entry to gear and the sluggish tempo at which pupil improvements attain the market.
Others highlighted the necessity for mental property safety and equal alternatives for college students from non-engineering backgrounds to contribute to the oil and gasoline sector.
Broader considerations had been additionally expressed on environmental and human rights implications of power initiatives, the sustainability of photo voltaic infrastructure and the rising want for cybersecurity abilities.
Guaranteeing the following technology is correctly ready
In the end, the success of the occasion’s mantra, “Consciousness to Motion” underscored a strong reality: Uganda’s power transition have to be pushed from inside.
Younger contributors confirmed they don’t seem to be solely conscious of the stakes however able to act. Their message was clear – this transition received’t be imported; it will likely be inbuilt Uganda, by Ugandans.
However consciousness alone isn’t sufficient. The youth referred to as for concrete steps to bridge the hole between educational coaching and trade expectations.
They highlighted the pressing want for internships and stronger collaboration between universities, corporations, and authorities to make sure they’re geared up to steer in each oil and renewable power sectors.
This isn’t only a query of power sources, it’s about empowering the following technology to form the long run, not watch from the sidelines.
