President Yoweri Museveni has asked Bunyoro Kingdom to restrain from talking about oil saying it’s premature to do so.
In a speech read for him by First Lady Janet Museveni during celebrations to mark the 18th coronation anniversary of Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru at Karuziika Palace in Hoima town, the president said it was better for people to engage more in agricultural production than the oil talk.
Museveni says government is still in early stages of making the oil legislation to pave way for better oil governance and thus it is premature to talk about it.
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The president’s caution comes amid renewed demands by the kingdom to have a share on the oil revenues. Two weeks ago, Omukama Iguru personally went to parliament where he presented a petition before the natural resources committee demanding a 12.5% share on the oil revenues.
In his speech prior to Museveni’s, the king took much time explaining why he went to parliament.
Iguru said that under the 1933 and 1955 colonial agreements and the constitution, the king is supposed to be a trustee for all the mineral resources in his kingdom on behalf of the subjects. The Omukama says as a trustee, his kingdom is entitled to a share of the revenues from oil now under exploration in Bunyoro, which he says is not provided for in the current draft oil bills.
The two bills, Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Bill 2012 and the Petroleum (Refining, Gas processing and Conversion) Bill 2012, were tabled before Parliament early this year by Energy Minister Irene Muloni.
Speaking in Runyoro, the Omukama said he had gone to parliament to remind legislators of the 1933/1955 agreements and the need for a law in place to guarantee the kingdom’s share of the oil revenues.
Despite the president’s caution, Second Deputy Premier Henry Muganwa Kajura says the king commits no harm to speak for his people on what they want. As he stood to invite Mrs Museveni, Kajura who is also the Hoima Municipality Member of Parliament, said Iguru’s appearance in parliament was timely.
At the function the Omukama also launched the HIV/AIDS counseling and testing campaign in his kingdom where he urged all subjects to routinely test for the disease.
Several traditional leaders including Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru among others graced the function.
