The Norwegian oil expert Hans Peter Christopher has urged the government of Uganda to utilise oil and gas resources in the same way his country does to benefit masses.

Mr. Christopher was on Friday speaking during the workshop for Members of Parliament on the developments of oil and gas organised by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) at Lake Victoria Serena Resort & Spa-Kigo. The two-day workshop was organised to update the MPs on the development in the oil and gas sector.

He said Norway has 10 oil commandments that Uganda can consider for the proper management of oil resources.

Addressing members the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Robert Kasande said the reason of the workshop was to share information, feedback and solicit for support in the journey for first oil expected around 2022.

Kasande gave an overview on the Oil and Gas sector focusing on the present and forward. He said the constitution of Uganda vets ownership of Oil and Gas resources in the government on behalf of the Republic of Uganda.

He said the role of Parliament is critical in ensuring the right legislation is in place to develop the oil and gas sector. He said his ministry was learning from other African oil producers to avoid mistakes that could derail the sector especially as regards to oil revenue.

The MPs questioned energy officials on security, land issues, crude oil so far extracted for testing, the oil curse, among other concerns.

In mid-December 2018, the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija and the Norwegian Ambassador to Uganda, Susan Eckey, signed the Oil for Development Programme Agreement, with the ambition of further strengthening the management of the oil and gas sector in Uganda.

The Oil for Development Programme is designed to assist developing countries to manage their petroleum resources in a sustainable manner and to target poverty reduction through managing petroleum responsibly, both economically, environmentally, and socially. Norway and Uganda have been committed to this programme since 2009.

This signing marks the programme’s third phase, running from 2018 to 2022, but Norway has assisted Uganda in developing its petroleum sector since the 1980’s. The Oil for Development Programme remains a key priority of Norway’s engagement with Uganda, as part of our strategic goals of promoting sustainable management of natural resources and good governance.

Norway cooperates with several other countries in an Oil for Development programme, such as Ghana, Angola, Mozambique, South Sudan, and Kenya.

60,000 barrels of Oil per-day refinery is to be developed and the project includes 213 kilometres pipeline from the refinery site to a terminal in Kampala. Uganda has about 6.5 billion barrels of oil with about 2.2 barrels recoverable.

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President Museveni and the chairman of East African Community has arrived in Tanzania to address the 20th Ordinary Meeting of the Summit of the regional Heads of State at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) in Arusha.

The meeting was slated for November last year however it was postponed to due to a lack of quorum caused by the absence of the Republic of Burundi.

According to Rule 11 of the Rules of Procedure of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State, quorum is made of all Partner States representation which is in consonance with decision making by consensus under Article 12 of the Treaty.

Heads of state are expected to discuss the status of ratification of various protocols, the status of resolution of long outstanding non-tariff barriers and the progress report on the adoption of Political Confederation as a Transitional Model to the East African Political Federation.

Sates men will also deliberate on the roadmap for the accelerated integration of the Republic of South Sudan into the EAC and the verification exercise for the admission of the Republic of Somalia into the Community.

The Summit will also consider reports on modalities for the promotion of Motor Vehicle Assembly in East Africa aimed at reducing importation of used vehicles into the Community, and; the review of the textile and leather sector with a view to developing a strong and competitive domestic sector that gives consumers better choice than imported textile and footwear.

At their 19th Ordinary Meeting held in Kampala, Uganda on 23rd February, 2018, the Summit directed the EAC Council of Ministers to explore the possibilities of developing the automotive industry in East Africa by reducing the importation of used vehicles from outside the region and thereby make the region more competitive.

The Summit, at the same meeting in Kampala, directed the Council to make the region more competitive by prioritising the development of a competitive domestic textile and leather sector that will give East Africans a wider range of choices in terms of affordable, new and quality clothes, shoes and other leather products.

The forthcoming Summit will also review progress report by the Council of Ministers on the Summit Directive on having two Deputy Secretaries General at the Community recruited competitively on a rotational basis among the Partner States.

The Summit at its 19th Ordinary Meeting held in Kampala, decided that there will only be two Deputy Secretaries General at the EAC who shall be recruited competitively on a rotational basis.

The Summit is expected to assent to various Bills passed by the East Legislative Assembly, namely: the EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016, the Administration of the East African Court of Justice Bill, 2018, the EAC Monetary Institute Bill, 2018, and the EAC Customs Management (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

The Summit will further consider the implementation status of the EAC Customs Union and Common Market Protocols in addition to the current financial status of the Community.

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Parliament has directed the Office of the Prime Minister to intervene in the reported displacement of people of Apaa, Amuru district by unknown militia.

The directive comes after the Amuru District MP Lucy Akello and Nwoya District MP Lilly Adong sought immediate government intervention to solve the ongoing havoc meted on the people of the area by unknown militia from Adjumani district.

The MPs raised the issues during Wednesday’s sitting, forcing the Speaker to ask the Prime Minister for an explanation during the Thursday sitting. The MPs said this was in contravention of a presidential directive halting any evictions of the people of Apaa.

Minister of Internal Affairs, Mario Obiga Kania, said that the Prime Minister had directed his Ministry to prepare the response to be presented on Tuesday next week.

“The Office of the Prime Minister is directed to go and support the people who have no food and probably no shelter. This is very urgent,” She said asserting that the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure there is security for people in camp and those injured s be treated.

Kadaga gave the directive after Minister Obiga Kania asked for more time to present a statement of the sustained havoc on and displacement of the people of Apaa by unknown militia.

“We are preparing the statement. I have already consulted some of the colleagues from that area and are agreeable to having other meetings so that we come here with a comprehensive statement,” said Obiga Kania.

In response to a matter raised, Kilak South County, Gilbert Olanya on the continued arrests of the people of Apaa, Obiga Kania said that the situation is under control.

“I called the Deputy Regional Police Commander of Adjumani and he said that eight people have been arrested and are being processed through the right channels of the law,” said Obiga Kania.

He also promised to verify information presented by Kilak North MP Anthony Akol that some people of Apaa were attacked on the night of 30 January 2019.

“If our people are suffering and they need our support, that needs attention after immediate verification, a step we shall undertake,” said Obiga Kania.

In 2015, Government demarcated the boundary between Amuru and Adjumani amidst protests from the people of Amuru. The leaders of Amuru said that the process only involved people from Adjumani and that the boundary was extended inside Amuru. Since then, the area has witnessed conflicts which have led to deaths, destruction of property as well as displacement of residents.

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