By Leilah Bbaale
The African Development Bank is to provide close to 1.8 billion shillings towards supporting businesses along the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)

A statement from the Petroleum Authority(PAU) says the government of Uganda and African Development Bank signed the gran agreement for the project mid-last month in Kampala.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) business linkages project is expected to boost business linkages along the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) route.

Small businesses along the EACOP route are expected to access new market opportunities through creation of business linkages between Small and Medium enterprises with large national, regional or international companies.

A steering committee has since been established by the Petroleum Authority (PAU) to provide strategic guidance to implement the African Development Bank (AfDB) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) business linkages project.

The members are Dennis Kamurasi, Vice Chairperson, Association of the Oil and Gas Service Providers; Charles Felix Olarker, Assistant Commissioner District Inspection, Ministry of Local Government, Steven Sherura Bainenaama, Principal Petroleum Officer, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD,) and Betty Namubiru, Manager, National Content.

Namubiru is to double as the project coordinator. The committee will be chaired by Peninah Aheebwa, also Director, and Technical Support Services at PAU.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Committee, PAU Director, Dr. Joseph Kobusheshe said it is crucial that Ugandans take advantage of the opportunities around the pipeline.