The Petroleum Authority of Uganda which regulates oil and gas companies has set conditions that the Contractors of the Kingfisher feeder pipeline must meet before they are awarded an operational license to start construction of a trench from the Buhuka landing site in Kikuube to Kabaale industrial hub in Hoima district.

China's national oil company, China Offshore Oil Corporation was Contracted to develop a kingfisher oil development field in the Buhuka landing site, Kikuube district recently sub-contracted another Chinese company called Daqing Oil Field Construction group to construct a feeder pipeline that will transport crude oil from oil wells to a central processing facility that will be set up in Kabaale industrial area, Hoima district.

The Daqing was amongst other conditions, asked to ensure that they hire local sub-contractors to do trenching, training local welders. However, during the monitoring and supervision conducted by a team of Petroleum Authority of Uganda led by the executive director Ernest Rubondo, it was discovered that the sub-contractors had not given jobs to local welders.

Rubondo tasked them to preoccupy already trained welders who were trained by the government and other oil companies like total energies, East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) as well as employing many locals to do casual work before approving their construction permit.

Alex Nyombi, an officer from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda hopes that once things are made right, an operating license will be granted and this will reduce unemployment.

Rubondo was surprised when he was told that they have only 10 ready welders to start the work.

Hu Wei jie, the vice president of CNOOC Uganda advised the sub-contractors to set up a working plan and requirements so that work can start as soon as possible.

Rubondo also visited the waste management plan that is under construction by Luwero industries limited and tasked them to speed up the remaining works that include a weighbridge among others. Uganda expects to have its first commercial oil production in 2025.