As Uganda and China are set to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations next month, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is the latest major Chinese company to put its stake in the East African country.

CNOOC Limited's entry into Uganda's oil sector early this year follows a partnership; it entered into with Tullow, a British oil exploration company which was selling part of its stakes in the petroleum licenses located in the Albertine Graben in western Uganda.

CNOOC Limited bought a third of Tullow's stakes while France's Total bought the other third.

Uganda boasts of 3.5 billion barrels of oil so far discovered and the figure is expected to rise, according to statistics from the Ministry of Energy's Petroleum Exploration and Production Department.

Xiao Zongwei, President CNOOC Uganda limited told Xinhua in an interview recently that he was optimistic about Uganda's oil future, saying that CNOOC limited is committed to long-term cooperation and sustainable investment under win-win principle.

"We believe this investment will create considerable value for CNOOC limited's shareholders, while contributing to Uganda's economic growth and social welfare for local people," he said.

"CNOOC limited is willing to work closely with the government, our partner and the other stakeholders, applying its expertise, sharing the experiences, exchanging the technical and managerial learning," said Xiao.

He said the oil industry provides Uganda with various opportunities.

"For workforce development, though oil and gas is not a labor intensive industry, there will be direct and indirect, office and on site job opportunities when the operation starts," said Xiao.

"We will work closely with our stakeholders to train and employ qualified national employees. Now we have employed more than 50 Ugandans at our Kampala office," he added.

In a bid to build confidence among the locals regarding its commitment to Uganda's oil sector, CNOOC Uganda limited has embarked on several charity programs especially in communities that are neighboring the licensed area.

On Sept.11, the company handed over a package of 3,600 exercise books, 3,600 pencils, 3600 pens, 600 school bags, 450kgs of beans, 450kgs of maize flour to the pupils and teachers of Buhuka Primary School located at Buhuka fishing community in the western Ugandan district of Hoima.

The donation is in addition to the monthly salary top CNOOC Uganda Limited gives to the primary teachers in a bid to persuade them to stay teaching in the school despite the hard conditions.

In order to also improve the standard of education in Hoima, CNOOC Uganda Limited is planning to start up a scholarship scheme where the best performing students in the district will be given awards.

It has also donated drugs to Ntoroko district and also embarked on supporting a local football tournament in Bunyoro kingdom, a region where the current petroleum operations are taking place.

"We are fulfilling our corporate social responsibilities actively; we have been able to enjoy the appreciation from the locals. We are delighted to see that our initiatives in Corporate Social Responsibility projects are warmly welcomed and accepted by the local communit,." said Xiao.

All these activities are aimed at creating a strong bond between CNOOC Uganda Limited and the local communities.