MINISTRY OF ENERGY OFFICIAL SHARPLY CRITICIZES BUNYORO LEADERS OVER OIL

By Yosam Gucwaki

In Masindi—-

Kasita Ibrahim, the Communication specialist,from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has blasted Masindi district leaders for being ignorant on oil issues and yet they have avenues where they can access information.

Speaking during the stake holders meeting aimed at updating leaders on the status of oil, organized by the ministry of Energy and mineral Development at the district chambers yesterday, Kasita challenged the leaders of Masindi to look for the necessary information about oil and gas and pass it to the public noting that he doesn’t want the leaders to be passive but to be active stake holders.

He added that this will help the community to be in a know about the status of oil being drilled in the abertine region.

Kasita  also advised the leaders to incorporate the information they get into their work plan such that the community can benefit from the oil that was discovered in the Albertine region citing the district production officer and the district community development officer.

But the chairperson LCV Masindi district, Cosmas Byaruhanga, blamed the ministry of energy for failing to come down to the grass root to prepare the leaders and the community on the strategies they can follow in order to benefit from the oil noting that everything is done in Kampala leaving out the district which are directly affected by the oil activities.

He added that if affirmative action is not allocated to Bunyoro sub region it will be hard for the people of bunyoro  to get opportunities to  tap the money from oil.

He added that building capacity for the local content for the local person in Bunyoro region is very paramount for the people of this region to benefit from oil.

Byaruhaga, also expressed his concern over government failing to improve on the roads in Bunyoro and yet it is almost the food basket of Uganda as a country wandering as to why government has improved the road network of other areas which contribute little to the country.

Kyomuhendo Francis, the district Education Officer Masindi, challenged Kasita to explain how much share Bunyoro sub region is going to benefit from oil something he failed to answer.