Uganda Government to Combat 'Negative Propaganda' in Oil Sector

The Ugandan government is preparing to implement a unified communication strategy aimed at countering perceived negative propaganda and disseminating accurate information about the oil and gas sector to its citizens. This move comes as the nation inches closer to realizing its first oil production.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Monica Musenero, emphasized that all departments and agencies under her ministry must adopt this coordinated approach. She specifically highlighted the need to engage young Ugandans with relevant information about the sector’s significance to the national economy.

During a tour of oil facilities in the Bunyoro sub-region, Dr. Musenero suggested that some of the opposition to Uganda’s oil development is being orchestrated by foreign entities using Ugandans, particularly the youth, as a front. She questioned the stance of countries that continue to rely on petroleum products while opposing Uganda’s efforts to develop its own resources.

To ensure clarity and build public trust, the government plans to provide reliable and timely information. “We need sophisticated communication flow, especially now as the country moves towards achieving its first oil,” Dr. Musenero stated. “The most important aspect is to provide reliable information to the country, especially the young people, to also know how important the sector is to the growth of the economy.”

The ministry is also undergoing internal restructuring to improve inter-departmental coordination, which has sometimes been characterized by a lack of synergy. Advanced technology will be employed to create direct links between ministry leadership and its various units.

Dr. Musenero also addressed concerns about the tangible economic benefits for Ugandans from the oil sector. She questioned the current plans for revenue and job creation, particularly regarding the export of crude oil for refining abroad. “I have my questions: where is the money, where are the jobs, and where are the industries that are going to provide employment to our Ugandans?” she posed, calling for answers from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), EACOP, and Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC).

She further requested that the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) consider allocating some crude oil for research and educational purposes within Uganda, a request she had previously made to the PAU without success.

Senior Presidential Advisor on Oil and Gas, Dr. Fred Kabagambe Kaliisa, expressed optimism about the progress in the oil industry, noting that Uganda is on a steady path towards commercializing its petroleum resources. He urged residents and all Ugandans to prepare to seize the emerging opportunities from the sector, emphasizing that readiness will be key to benefiting from them.

Source: Nile Post