Communities Reap Big as TotalEnergies Boosts Education and Capacity in Buliisa

The people of Buliisa District are reaping direct benefits from Uganda’s oil and gas developments, following the handover of new education infrastructure and capacity-building support by TotalEnergies EP Uganda in partnership with World Vision Uganda.

Transforming Schools, Strengthening Communities

In a ceremony held at Kisomere Primary School, TotalEnergies EP Uganda officially handed over newly built and rehabilitated classrooms, staff houses, and modern sanitation facilities to Kisomere and Kirama Primary Schools. This project aims to improve education standards and community empowerment in the Tilenga host communities.

The initiative, dubbed the Infrastructure Improvement and Institutional Capacity Building Project, has seen the rehabilitation of 21 classrooms, the construction of six new classrooms, 16 staff housing units, and 20 improved latrine units. Over 2,600 textbooks and reading materials have also been supplied to learners in both schools.

Empowering Teachers and School Leaders

Beyond the brick-and-mortar developments, the company has invested in capacity building, training more than 90 teachers in child protection, adolescent reproductive health, and pupil retention practices. School Management Committees and Parents-Teachers Associations have also benefited from leadership and governance training to improve accountability and community involvement.

“This milestone represents a vision in action where strategic partnerships and investment in education lay the foundation for resilient, informed, and empowered communities,” said Mr. Philippe Groueix, General Manager, TotalEnergies EP Uganda. “By enhancing learning environments and empowering teachers, we are preparing them to participate meaningfully in their community’s development.”

World Vision Uganda’s National Director, Jeremiah Nyagah, hailed the partnership for creating lasting change in the community. “The reintegration of vulnerable adolescents, especially girls, into school is reversing cycles of exclusion and inequality. These projects are about restoring dignity and opportunity,” he said.

Local leaders praised the initiative as a strong demonstration of how oil and gas investments can improve people’s lives. Buliisa District Education Officer, Mr. Kiza Kasangati Taison, noted that the facilities will “go a long way in creating a more conducive learning environment and easing the burden on teachers.”

At Kisomere Primary School, Headteacher Tommy Okello said the support was transformative. “We are deeply grateful. These classrooms and staff houses have strengthened our capacity and inspired both teachers and learners to aim higher.”

Long-Term Community Investment

The initiative adds to TotalEnergies’ broad community development portfolio in the Albertine region, including 377 secondary school scholarships, 100 scholarships for nursing and midwifery, distribution of 7,000 solar lamps, and agricultural support for more than 10,000 households.

According to Mr. Groueix, the company’s approach aligns with Uganda’s Vision 2040 and seeks to ensure that oil and gas development delivers inclusive growth. “Our commitment goes beyond extraction. It’s about building the social infrastructure that supports communities today and prepares them for a better tomorrow,” he said.

As Uganda moves closer to first oil, projects like this in Buliisa reflect a broader vision of shared prosperity, where local communities stand not as bystanders but as active beneficiaries of the country’s energy future.