The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) has achieved a significant milestone after being awarded three internationally recognised International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifications, reinforcing its commitment to global best practices in quality management, environmental sustainability, and occupational health and safety.
The national oil company received ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001:2015 for Environmental Management Systems, and ISO 45001:2018 for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems following a comprehensive independent audit conducted by LMS Certification Services, an internationally accredited certification body.
The certification process involved a rigorous assessment of UNOC’s management systems, with auditors confirming that the company meets internationally accepted standards for operational excellence, environmental stewardship, and workplace health and safety.
The achievement comes at a critical time as Uganda prepares for its long-awaited First Oil, providing further assurance that the country’s national oil company is operating under globally recognised governance and management frameworks.
According to UNOC, the certifications reflect the company’s continued commitment to strengthening institutional governance, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring responsible and sustainable management of Uganda’s petroleum resources.
The certifications also demonstrate the company’s focus on delivering quality services while protecting the environment and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of employees, contractors, visitors, and other stakeholders involved in its operations.
Under the ISO framework, the ISO 9001:2015 certification recognises UNOC’s ability to consistently deliver customer-focused services through well-documented and continually improving processes. The ISO 14001:2015 certification validates the company’s structured environmental management systems designed to minimise environmental risks and improve sustainability. Meanwhile, ISO 45001:2018 confirms that UNOC has established internationally recognised systems to manage occupational health and safety risks and promote safer working environments.
The triple certification places UNOC among organisations that have adopted internationally benchmarked management systems, further strengthening investor confidence as Uganda’s oil and gas sector moves closer to commercial production.
Industry observers note that internationally recognised certifications play an important role in enhancing operational credibility, improving regulatory compliance, and positioning national oil companies to compete effectively within the global energy industry.
For Uganda, the achievement signals another step towards building a petroleum sector anchored on transparency, operational excellence, environmental responsibility, and international best practice as the country prepares to enter the league of oil-producing nations.
