Chinese firm offers scholarships to local students in W. Uganda
KAMPALA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has awarded scholarships to 300 top-performing students in western Uganda's oil region to further their education.
At the 2025 Best Performers Awards ceremony held at the Hoima District headquarters on Friday, the oil giant announced that the winners, who performed well on last year's national exams, are in different categories, including primary, secondary, and university-bound students. Six students with disabilities were also awarded.
According to a CNOOC press release shared here on Saturday, the winners are from Hoima District and Kikuube District. They received cash prizes and certificates of recognition for their achievement.
Wang Jufeng, vice president of CNOOC Uganda Limited, said the annual program aims to invest in youth to shape Uganda's future.
"We believe that education is the key to a better future. That is why we started this Best Performers Awards program. Since 2013, we have supported 1,448 students through this initiative," Wang said.
He said the company is also implementing initiatives that help schools by donating books, furniture, and other learning materials.
"Some students from Hoima and Kikuube have received international scholarships, and at the moment, we have Musinguzi Ronald from Kikuube and Amanya Jean Remmy in China University of Petroleum, studying petroleum engineering under full sponsorship from CNOOC Uganda Limited," he added.
He said these initiatives will help students gain knowledge and grow into strong, confident adults who will contribute positively to the development of Uganda.
CNOOC is currently managing the Kingfisher Oil Field in western Uganda, where commercial oil drilling is underway. Uganda discovered 6.5 billion barrels of oil in 2006, with 1.4 billion barrels deemed commercially viable, according to the country's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
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