The Petroleum (Exploration, Production and Development) Act, 2013, which became effective in April this year, was supposed to set the momentum for the growth of local content. However, it is doubtable whether the law will be able to effectively achieve its end. The Act compels oil companies to employ Ugandans if they qualify for the
It is a bittersweet experience for Ugandans in the country’s new oil hub
Anaka, the small town in the newly created district of Nwoya, the latest to get added to the list of places that harbor some oil wells in Uganda, is starting to bustle with all sort of activity. As the natives of Nwoya will tell you, Anaka was before a little known place, yet now it
Why Uganda’s concession to the regional pipeline project is good news to South Sudan
South Sudan must have been waiting with bated breath or should we say eavesdropping on the conversations between Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda that have been the centre of media attention this week. The President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been hosting his colleagues Uhuru Kenyatta, the Kenyan President and Paul Kagame, the President of
Oil hunt in Ugandan national park tests Africa’s eco defences
Reuters Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park is bisected by the majestic Nile river and boasts some of Africa’s wildlife treasures – elephants, lions and a rare giraffe sub-species. Beneath it lies another natural prize: oil. Now French energy giant Total has begun surveys to prepare for seismic tests in the national park, one of
The environmental impact of the solid wastes expected from Uganda’s oil refinery
Every industry usually produces waste which it is expected to dispose off in a manner that is environment friendly. The refinery will be no exception. It is projected that during the construction of the refinery, construction solid wastes and domestic sewage will contaminate the soil if not properly treated. Refineries generate solid wastes and
Uganda urged to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
The Managing Editor of Oil in Uganda, a website on oil related developments in Uganda, Chris Byaruhanga has challenged the Uganda government to open up and embrace the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global standard, where member governments declare income they earn from their extractive industries and
Why the shs39b budgetary allocation for the refinery construction activities is too small
One of the biggest winners in the budget that the Uganda Minister of Finance, Planing and Economic Development Maria Kiwanuka read a couple of days ago was the energy sector which received a huge boost of 281 billion pushing its total budgetary allocation to 1.4 trillion shillings. While the allocations should enthuse the different
How the refinery will “waste” Uganda’s water
In the very first article we ran about the environmental cost of building an oil refinery we focussed on the air emmisions and how they will affect the environment. Today we focus on the effect of emmissions to water that will result from the construction of the refinery. The principal sources of effluent discharge
The environmental cost of building an oil refinery in Uganda
Building an oil refinery will definitely come with an environmental cost to the nation. And as we seek to assess the environmental impact of building an oil refinery there are a number of factors that are worthy taking note of. For this particular analysis we zero on one particular aspect of the environment: the
Makerere Business School sends out 60 graduates into an “Oily” but rugged field
Makerere Business School has churned out 60 graduates of an advanced oil and gas management essentials training. The 60 step into the seemingly “oily” field but they will definitely be shocked to discover that they may have to tread a rugged terrain in their pursuit of success in the increasingly competitive sector. In the recent