Clerics under the Inter-religious Council of Uganda have called for the streamlining of the powers given to the Minister under the Petroleum Bills now before the natural resources committee of parliament.
While at the breakfast prayer meeting with the 9th parliament held at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Friday, the clerics presented a memorandum on the two bills to the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, asking her to guide the natural resources committee as they review the proposed oil laws.
The Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Bill 2012 and the Petroleum (Refining, Gas processing and Conversion) Bill 2012, referred to as Bill 1 and 2, were tabled before Parliament early this year by Energy Minister Irene Muloni.
Among the key issues, the clerics raised in their memorandum is the increased oversight of parliament into the petroleum sector through appointing of people to the Petroleum Authority and also carrying out disciplinary action on the corrupt in the sector. The right of access to information was also pointed out as one of the favourable ways to fight graft in the sector.
In their current state, the role of parliament is only limited to legislation, passing the budget of the Petroleum Authority and receiving reports from the line minister.
According to the religious leaders, the bills give the minister excessive powers including granting and revoking licences, aproving field plans, issuing regulations, negotiating and endorsing petroleum agreements and appointing members of the Authority.
The breakfast meeting was attended by Sheikh Shaban Mubajje, the Mufti of Uganda, His Archbishop Jonah Lwanga of the Orthodox Church, Archbishop Luke Orombi of the Church of Uganda and Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, the Archbishop of Kampala. It was the second event for the opening of the second session of parliament following the State of the Nation address on Thursday.
The major talking points evolved around management of oil revenues, political governance of the country and the condition of labour in the country.
The memorandum by the religious leaders also calls for the authority of licensing companies to be aligned to the public procurement and disposal laws. They argue that not more than 5 blocks of oil fields should be given to a single company. The clerics also call for the national oil company that is to be set up by the government to be a public limited company from which each national can purchase shares.
