The community in Nwoya district where some of the oil wells are located have accused government, oil companies and civil society of failure of provide them sufficient information on the developments taking place in their own backyard.
The residents say the parties have done nothing to ensure they get information about the exploration and production of the oil even though the wells are located right inside their district.
Frederick Okecha, a resident of Purongo Sub County where the oil wells are found says that the local community has been starved of information about the oil developments by the government and oil companies who only target the national level.
//Cue in: “Members of the…”
Cue out: “…in our sub county.”//
Okecha said his community want government and the oil exploration companies to establish a centre in the district where all the relevant information about the oil and gas mining could be accessed by the community members with interest in knowing the progress of the activities.
He says the initiative would help to achieve bridge the gap in information flow between the government, the oil exploration companies and the local community to create transparency.
//Cue in: “At least, government should…”
Cue out: “…and the local population.’//
The call for an Oil information centre first occurred in 2010 during a dialogue on Oil and Gas held at Paraa Safari Lodge, Murchison National Park.
Participants said the district should provide space where the oil companies could set up the centers. The dialogue resolved that the parties involved in oil activities should establish oil information centers, ensure information flow and outreach, translate information on oil into local languages as well as include Civil Society organization on the list of recipients of quarterly reports from government.
Other resolutions included the need for Oil companies to hold regular community meetings.
However, since September 2010 when the dialogue took place, the community is yet to see its resolutions implemented.
###
