Fred Lukumu, the LC V chairman of Bulisa says that communities in areas where oil exploration is taking place are not adequately prepared to take up jobs in the oil industry.
Lukumu says that most of the residents are only benefiting from low end jobs that are less paying. He says that currently the highly paying jobs are dominated by expatriates because people in Buliisa lack required skills.
Speaking to URN on the sidelines of the ongoing petroleum conference, Lukumu said that the desire of his district leadership is that residents dominate the bigger jobs. He demanded that the oil companies use part of the revenue from the oil fields to provide training to the communities around the oil fields as part of their corporate social responsibility.
//Cue in: "We are still bargaining..."
Cue out: "... benefit from this opportunity."//
The district chairman is also concerned that few Ugandan companies have been contracted to offer logistical support to the oil exploration companies.
Brian Glover, Tullow Uganda General Manager, says that more Ugandan companies are being incorporated with time.
//Cue in: "Maybe in the logistics ..."
Cue out: "... has sustainability."//
Glover says Tullow can make some contribution in bridging the gap but government and the district local government have to play the lead role.
The National Gas and Oil Policy 2008 require oil companies to provide employment to residents in the area of their operation.
Statistics from ministry of energy indicates that 400 Ugandans have so far been employed by the industry. Three hundred people were initially employed during the seismic survey while about 100 were employed during drilling operations.
