Gulu I Acholi leaders have urged Uganda’s government to be completely transparent, honest, and accountable when it comes to oil and gas, as well as minerals discovered in the subregion.
The leaders expressed their concerns last week at a sub-regional leadership meeting on oil, gas and minerals at the Churchill Courts Hotel in Gulu City. The meeting discussed fact-finding updates on Acholi’s precious resources.
Amose Okot, chairperson of the Acholi Parliamentary Group and Member of Parliament for Agago North, stated that they are attempting to bring forward and understand silent questions regarding “God’s given metallic and non-metallic minerals in our land.”
Okot claimed that some individuals in the government have selfish interests.
“Many citizens from other parts of Uganda have expressed a strong desire to purchase our land in large quantities, focusing solely on areas where minerals have been discovered. “We need transparency from the government, not blindfolding our citizens,” he told tndNews.
“We want our locals to be given licences and capacity building so they can gain knowledge and skills.”
According to Okot, it is beyond the community’s speculations. “Today, the minister confirmed that they are keeping secrets [information] from Ugandans for fear of mafias sneaking in to claim land where minerals have been discovered.
“As an Acholi community, we need affirmative action to control our oil and gas, as well as minerals on our land, so that other citizens do not take them.”
The MP has challenged a Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development report that claims only 21% of Acholi’s oil has been discovered. This contradicts what the Acholi [leaders] know.
Professor Morris Ogenga Latigo has conducted research on oil and gas in the Acholi subregion. He stated that Acholi appears to be denied facts.
“Our main concerns are misrepresentation and implication when oil starts flowing out of Acholi. The government can come and deny that the oil is not from Acholi then we will miss royalties.
“The law on royalty is too bad and does not favour. When issues concerning oil, gas, and minerals arose in Acholi [in 2008], some districts, such as Nwoya, were not established. Acholi should not be restricted to specific districts.
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Professor Ogenga is concerned that if the government denies local citizens accountability and information about their own wealth, they may lose access to revenue details. “We need to have proper access to the amount of oil going out,” he urged.
Rwot David Onen Acana II, the Paramount Chief of Acholi, stated that Acholi expects the Ugandan government to use revenue collected for the social and economic transformation of Acholi and the region.
“But we have been left in a dilemma not to know the facts about minerals amid us. What pains our locals is the ministry’s research, which shows that we have only 21% of the oil, despite the fact that the Professor’s study assumes we have the largest mineral deposits in Acholi.
“I have received many complaints from Orom through the area chief about the missing information,” said Acana.
He extended his concern on how the government is using its power to distort land boundaries in Apaa and Aswa ranch. According to Rwot Acana, this indicates a “signal of silent question” that warrants an investigation.
Acana urged that the mineral processing facility be built closer to where mining will take place, stating that we must receive the highest percentage of revenue share.
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According to Dr. Kenneth Omona, State Minister for northern Uganda, the Acholi sub-region has 2.2 million people, which is equivalent to 6% of the national population.
He stated that Acholi contains 57 different types of metallic and non-metallic minerals, accounting for 11% of the total minerals in the country.
However, the Minister stated that he is unaware of the potential minerals in the region. “What I know is oil deposits in Nwoya district without proper quantity and quality,” he added.
Omona blamed youth, branding them as lazy and unproductive, for any government intervention. The region’s minister has urged young people to take advantage of opportunities to promote their mineral rather than acting as observers in the community.
Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, addressed some of the Acholi leaders’ concerns and urged calm. “It is still relevant for us to review the reports and refer back to bridge the gaps identified by leaders,” she said.
The minister confirmed that “most of the oils” are in Acholi, adding that in the next engagement, the government will involve officials from the Ministry of Land and local residents to address some issues.
Nankabirwa informed leaders that her ministry does not have control over oil and gas funds held in petroleum funds. She stated that only the ministry of finance has control over the funds. “We need to be patient. It still has a long way to go.
In terms of transparency and providing credible information to leaders, she stated that it has both advantages and disadvantages, stating that some mafias in Uganda can masquerade and acquire land while waiting for compensation from the government.
“Ugandans always plan like that. We are keeping it a secret so that people do not speculate.”
She advised Acholi not to lose trust in their oil and minerals, noting that it is written nowhere as ‘Bunyoro oil’ but as the Bunyoro oil region. “We will still name the ‘Acholi oil region’.”
The energy minister urged everyone in Acholi and the region to show interest and take advantage of the MOU for oil, gas and minerals to avoid speculation.
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