The Ugandan Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr Monica Musenero, has called for the need to have seasonal community engagements to end the public’s negative mindset towards the EACOP project.

Her call follows the EACOP project deputy Managing Director, Habumugisha John Bosco’s highlights on the challenges contributing to the delay in the project completion.

While giving the work status, Habumugisha said the project currently stands at an 87 per cent completion rate. He noted that the EACOP project has faced a couple of negative propaganda campaigns from the global community, with foreign funding to the local communities to protest against the activities in the oil and gas sector.

Habumugisha also noted that as a result of negative propaganda, it became hard for them to succeed in land acquisition but also tap into local participation since communities continue being negative towards the project.

Minister Musenero visited the EACOP project Pump Station One, which is currently 92.7 per cent complete at Kabalega Industrial Park (KIP) in Kabaale sub-county.

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To deal with propaganda, the minister called for the need to have seasonal community engagements, as one part of efforts to ensure success.

She noted that the oil and gas project is “a top icon of economic development” to Uganda, including the country’s GDP, acknowledging that the country’s citizens, including children, are assembled to protest the developmental project without focusing on its future economic opportunities and development for them.

“So, we really need to make sure that we have zero children protesting against this project … to stop and eradicate negative talks about the industry,” she urged

The minister called for cohesion among different players to ensure the success of the sector.

Meanwhile, Antoine Moreau, the project director at EACOP, attributed the delay to the Middle East crisis, missing cable terminations and high voltage top-ups.

“However, we have been able to procure different electrical requirements for oil, as part of the interventions to overcome the challenges,” he said.

Dr Kalisa Kabagambe, who is the chief presidential advisor on oil and mineral resources, urged communities to appreciate the oil and gas sector for the different development it has brought to them.

“We have seen a couple of developments, including improved road infrastructure, rural electrification, etc, in place. All because of the oil and gas industry.

“We also have an International Airport here to link us to international markets, among others,” Kalisa continued.