Opposition parties have snubbed the proposed thanksgiving prayers for oil, as opportunistic and ill intentioned.
The prayers for oil discovery, organized by the energy ministry will be held on Saturday at Kololo airstrip.
The discovery of oil in the Albertine Region has caused excitement over prospects for substantial economic development, on the one hand and raised concern among the general public and locals in the District.
But the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), party says the prayers are irrelevant. FDC Spokesperson Wafula Oguttu said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party wants to make political capital out of the oil discovery.
Similar concerns were raised by the Uganda People's Congress, (UPC) party. The party chairperson, Professor Patrick Rubaihayo, says government should not waste resources on thanks giving prayers, but rather focus on devising strategies to avoid conflicts that may result from the oil exploitations. He cited the conflict in Nigeria where the government there is battling militants who are protesting the distribution of oil resources in the Niger delta.
The Democratic Party Secretary General, Professor Ebil Oto, however says if invited, his Party members will attend the prayers.
