Betty Aol Ocan, the Woman Member of Parliament for Gulu and opposition Deputy Chief Whip has warned that the discovery and drilling of oil in Uganda could fuel conflict that will engulf the entire country Aol Ocan explained that because of the lack of transparency in the oil sharing deals by the government and other foreign companies involved in the extraction, oil is a likely potential cause of clash in the country.
Written by Acholi Times Correspondent Monday, 03 October 2011 10:57 Gulu Betty Aol Ocan, the Woman Member of Parliament for Gulu and opposition Deputy Chief Whip has warned that the discovery and drilling of oil in Uganda could fuel conflict that will engulf the entire country. Aol Ocan explained that because of the lack of transparency in the oil sharing deals by the government and other foreign companies involved in the extraction, oil is a likely potential cause of clash in the country. In May this year, the NRM government released irrelevant information relating to the oil sharing deals between State House and private companies operating in the country, but the actual contract still remains a mystery to Ugandans and to parliament. The information was partly presented to parliament following months of pressure from civil society organizations and lawmakers, according to Henry Banyezaki, the head of Uganda’s parliamentary forum on oil and gas.
Campaigners have in the past argued that the government’s secret dealings with oil companies could turn the recently discovered oil reserves in Uganda into a curse. The oil companies with deals in Uganda include the UK based Tullow Oil PLC (TLW.LN), Dominion Petroleum Ltd. (DPL.LN) and Neptune Ltd., a unit of London-listed Tower Resources PLC. (TRP.LN). The details of the deals yet to be released by government include the modalities on the sharing of oil between government and companies upon commencement of production, pricing and taxation issues. Also at stake is selection and transparency in employment. Many critics say that those being sponsored on oil & gas exploration courses abroad only come from one region of Uganda and close to state house, something the government denies. Aol Ocan raised concerns regarding the fact that development in the oil and gas industry has by far outpaced the process of developing the legal framework around it.
The legislator said that due to lack of laws and regulations, many Ugandans have been left in the dark about how the revenue will be shared among the land owners, regions and the government. The MP also said there has been no policy regarding the environmental degradation and health hazards posed to the communities near the oil wells. The Petroleum draft bill 2010 is still at the cabinet level for consideration. The bill among other things seeks to regulate petroleum exploration, development and production; create oversight and regulatory roles for the minister of Energy, regulate licensing and provide safe and efficient petroleum.
Since May this year, civil society organizations have been demanding that the 9th parliament push government into expediting the enactment of the petroleum law and to bring to the open, agreements signed by state house and these companies. Last Tuesday, 163 Members of Parliament signed a petition recalling parliament from recess to debate the Oil Sector. Uganda has discovered at least 1 billion barrels of oil along its western border with Congo. In March the government approved a joint venture deal with UK’s Tullow Oil, China’s CNOOC Ltd. (CEO) and French oil major Total SA (TOT) for the development of oil fields in the three blocks in Uganda, including Acholi sub-region.
In May this year, the NRM government released irrelevant information relating to the oil sharing deals between State House and private companies operating in the country, but the actual contract still remains a mystery to Ugandans and to parliament.
The information was partly presented to parliament following months of pressure from civil society organizations and lawmakers, according to Henry Banyezaki, the head of Uganda’s parliamentary forum on oil and gas.
Campaigners have in the past argued that the government’s secret dealings with oil companies could turn the recently discovered oil reserves in Uganda into a curse.
The oil companies with deals in Uganda include the UK based Tullow Oil PLC (TLW.LN), Dominion Petroleum Ltd. (DPL.LN) and Neptune Ltd., a unit of London-listed Tower Resources PLC. (TRP.LN).
The details of the deals yet to be released by government include the modalities on the sharing of oil between government and companies upon commencement of production, pricing and taxation issues. Also at stake is selection and transparency in employment. Many critics say that those being sponsored on oil & gas exploration courses abroad only come from one region of Uganda and close to state house, something the government denies.
Aol Ocan raised concerns regarding the fact that development in the oil and gas industry has by far outpaced the process of developing the legal framework around it.
The legislator said that due to lack of laws and regulations, many Ugandans have been left in the dark about how the revenue will be shared among the land owners, regions and the government.
The MP also said there has been no policy regarding the environmental degradation and health hazards posed to the communities near the oil wells.
The Petroleum draft bill 2010 is still at the cabinet level for consideration.
The bill among other things seeks to regulate petroleum exploration, development and production; create oversight and regulatory roles for the minister of Energy, regulate licensing and provide safe and efficient petroleum.
Since May this year, civil society organizations have been demanding that the 9th parliament push government into expediting the enactment of the petroleum law and to bring to the open, agreements signed by state house and these companies.
Last Tuesday, 163 Members of Parliament signed a petition recalling parliament from recess to debate the Oil Sector.
Uganda has discovered at least 1 billion barrels of oil along its western border with Congo. In March the government approved a joint venture deal with UK’s Tullow Oil, China’s CNOOC Ltd. (CEO) and French oil major Total SA (TOT) for the development of oil fields in the three blocks in Uganda, including Acholi sub-region.
| Oil could fuel conflict in Uganda warns Betty Aol Ocan |
| Written by Acholi Times Correspondent |
| Monday, 03 October 2011 10:57 |
