The Anglo-Irish oil exploration company Tullow Oil has announced that it is to set up a number of educational initiatives in the areas surrounding its ongoing operations in the west of Uganda.

At present, illiteracy levels in the Buliisa district of the African country are estimated to stand at around 63 per cent, with just 143 schools established when observers believe that around 270 are needed to provide adequate levels of education.

As such, under the new initiative, Tullow will work with the local educational authorities to establish several new schools as well as to roll out a widespread educational programme aimed at tackling the continued use of unsanitary water, for example through cooperation with fishing communities.

The company also intends to set up sporting programmes for the Ugandan youth.

Commenting on the initiative, Tullow Oil's general manager Brian Glover noted: "We have a number of corporate social responsibility projects that we intend to implement in the communities we operate in.

Tullow just recently announced that it had discovered new oil and gas reserves in the Ngege-1 exploration well in Block 2 in Uganda, with drilling expected to start at the end of the month.