Geology Career Opportunities

Geology is the study of the origin, evolution, composition and structure of the earth. It draws upon all basic sciences. This subject was first taught at Makerere in the Faculty of Science in 1968. It was a component in the Department of Geography but later became a fully-fledged Department in 1969. In 2010, the Makerere University Council renamed the Department of Geology as the Department of Geology and Petroleum Studies. This was geared towards targeting knowledge and skills training to support petroleum exploration and future production activities that had taken off in the Albertine Graben.

Currently the department welcomes students from within and outside the region who can specialize in Geosciences disciplines of choice. Deliberate Departmental efforts together with vibrant student organizations attract support from local and international institutions for specialized software, library and laboratory materials and facilities, hands-on trainings, fieldwork, research, internship and employment; these include academic and government institutions, geological, mining, water, oil and gas companies as well as service organizations.

With the current investment drive in the mining, petroleum and water sectors by the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), the demand for geoscientists both in the public and private sectors increase by the day.

In Uganda graduate geoscientists are employed in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Ministry of Lands and Environment, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Disaster Preparedness,Ministry of Internal Affairs. Geoscientists also required in the government parastatals such as the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum and the Materials laboratories.

In the private sector, geoscientists are employed in mining companies (e.g. Kasese Cobalt Co. Ltd (KCCL), cement processing companies, private and NGOs developing water resources, operating mines and quarries, petroleum development (e.g. TOTAL, CNOOC, Tullow Oil) and service organizations (e.g. Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, ICON, Silveira Group Uganda Ltd.), civil engineering works, and environmental impact assessment (EIA) and response to natural disasters.

Some of the vibrant alumni in the country through the Department

  1. Dr. KabagambeKaliisa- Senior Presidential advisor on Petroleum issues & former

  2. Mr. AbeinomugishaDozith- Director in charge of Exploration PAU

  3. Miss Agnes Alaba- Commissioner Mines (DGSM)

  4. Major. Nuwakuma Charles (SFC)

  5. Dr. TindimugayaKaliisiti- Commissioner DWRM

  6. Mr Fred Kabanda Former commissioner Petroleum Exploration & Production Department

 

The Geoscientists produced they mainly work as;

  1. Oil and Gas Explorationists and Production Geoscientists

  2. Hydrogeologists (Groundwater exploration and development)

  3. Environmental Geologists

  4. Engineering Geologists- (Civil works)

  5. HSE experts in  the petroleum and mines

  6. Mineral explorationist and development

  7. Oil and Gas exploration and production

  8. Mineral processing and analysis

Programme

Practical aspects

Admission requirements

Professional employment

i) BSc Physical Geology Major and Minor, BSc

The main objective of this programme is to build capacity through training and research in exploration, exploitation and management of earth resources.

  • 1-day Kampala region field geology class;
  • 3-day Mityana regional field geology class;
  • 2-week field geology mapping project of Gayaza, Isingiro district and field geology excurssion of SW Uganda;
  • 5-day field geology excursion of Eastern Uganda;

Essential subjects - Maths and one better done of Physics or Chemistry;

Relevant subjects - Next better done of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Geography;

Desirable subjects – General Paper, Computer studies;

Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Ministry of Lands and Environment, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Ministry of Internal Affairs, NEMA, Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum and the Materials laboratories. Mining companies, cement processing companies, private and NGOs developing water resources, operating mines and quarries, civil engineering works, and environmental impact assessment (EIA) and response to natural disasters.

ii) BSc (Petroleum Geosciences and Production), BPG

The main objective of this programme is to develop capacity in Petroleum Geoscience and Production through training and research that are much needed in the region, in order to sustain exploration and production.

  • 1-day Kampala region field geology class;
  • 3-day Mityana regional field geology class;
  • 2-week field geology mapping project of Gayaza, Isingiro district and field geology excurssion of SW Uganda;
  • 2-week field petroleum studies of the Albertine graben;

 

Essential subjects – Two best done of Chemistry, Physics, Maths

Relevant subjects – One best done of Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Geography, Physics, Maths

Desirable subjects – General Paper, Sub-Maths or Computer Studies

Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, NEMA, Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum.Petroleum development companies (e.g. TOTAL, CNOOC) and service organizations (e.g. Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, ICON, Silveira Group Uganda Ltd.).

iii) MSc in Geology (MGLO)

The general objective of the programme is to train Professional Geologists who can contribute effectively to programmes of mapping and exploration for all types of earth resources through the execution of appropriate geological survey methods in the field and the processing, interpretation and reporting of survey data in the office.

  • 1-day practical class demonstrations at the Directorate of Geological Surveys and Mines and the Directorate of  Petroleum;
  • Individual research project;

Honours degree with Geology, or allied disciplines (e.g. Mining Engineering, Geophysics, Geochemistry), or Geology plus geology-related Environmental Sciences from a recognized University. Applicants with pass degrees are admittedafter demonstrating academic growth in the field of geosciences.

Similar organizations to BSc  programme

iv) MSc in Petroleum Geosciences (MPG)

The general objective of the programme is to train Petroleum Geoscientists who can contribute effectively to programmes of exploration and development of petroleum resources.

  • 1-day practical class demonstrations at the Directorate of Geological Surveys and Mines and the Directorate of  Petroleum;
  • 2-week field course in the Albertine graben;
  • Individual petroleum geosciences research project;

Applicants are required to possess any first BSc degree in Earth Sciences, Geology, Petroleum Sciences, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Environmental Sciences, Engineering or Computer Science.

Similar organizations to BPG programme

v) PhD in Geology (Ph.D Geology)

The general objective of this programme is to train competent researchers who can conduct independent and original research in specific geoscience fields.

  • Individual field geoscience research project;

Applicants should choose their topic of preference and then write a research synopsis (concept paper). When this is approved, supervisors are allocated to the student who writes a research proposal and the research commences.

Geoscience academic and research organizations