“LET BANYORO BENEFIT FROM HOIMA AIRPORT PROJECT”-MINISTER NTEGE

By Yosam Gucwaki
In Hoima–

Government has directed the Hoima district leadership to engage SBC
officials;a company contracted to construct Hoima International
Airport in the implementation of the local content policy to enable
locals benefit from the project through jobs and provision of goods
and services.

The directive was issued by the works and transport minister Eng.
Monica Ntege Azuba on Friday while meeting SBC officials, Bunyoro
Kingdom officials, Hoima district leaders and Members of Parliament
from Bunyoro sub-region at the airport site to lay down a strategy of
addressing the concerns of the people.

Azuba revealed that top on the agenda of the meeting was the issue of
failure by the contractor to offer jobs to the locals.

She said the people of Bunyoro need to take advantage of the
opportunities in the oil sector so that they own and participate in
the projects rather than being spectators. She also directed SBC to
always advertise the existing vacancies to enable the locals compete.

Residents of Bunyoro were excited when the construction of an
international airport commenced in Hoima district anticipating getting
jobs and business opportunities from the project.

However, authorities in the region have persistently received
complaints and distress calls from the Omukama’s subjects saying they
are being sidelined in benefiting from the opportunities accruing from
the project.

Speaking during the meeting, the state minister for economic
monitoring Balthazar Kasirivu advised SBC officials to always consider
people from the host communities first not only for jobs but also
supply of goods and services before they consider anyone else from any
other areas.
He reminded SBC officials of the resistance among Banyoro saying they
do not want to resist the government project just because of denial
for jobs.
The project manager SBC Michel Dorachinof said they have established a recruitment office in Buseruka, disclosing that the company will this
month advertise jobs publicly.
Source: www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
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