{UAH} Conservative Party Uganda

 

                           CONSERVATIVE PARY UGANDA

 

OVERALL GOAL

To establish a strong and vibrant multiparty political system in Uganda.

    Title of the activity:

Need to amend article 244 of the 1995 constitution to provide remedies and penal clauses to protect the people and the environment from hazards related to oil production and refinery.

 

      A.         Statement of the problem/context.

It has been noted that while the Constitutions of other oil producing countries like Ghana and Nigeria address environmental calamities related to petroleum production and refinery, Uganda's basic law is silent about that. As if this is not enough, Parliament of Uganda passed a bill regarding the same but is very disappointing that the bill is silent on environmental issues likely to be brought about by the oil industry in Lake Albert.

 

      B.         What is the planned format (best for achieving the objectives)?

The format I have used to achieve the objectives is through research.

 

           What is the most important group(s) regarding the core problem?

 The most important target group regarding the core problem is the government of Uganda, but mainly the parliament.

This is a desk research and it mainly focuses on the bills and policies regarding petroleum production and refinery in the Lake Albert.

 

C.   Conservative Party under Ken Lukyamuzi is moving a private members bill in parliament to seek to amend within an appropriate time, the contents of article 244 of the constitution, to provide remedies and penal clauses to protect the people and environment from hazards related to oil production and refinery.

 

D. The objective of the activity is to notify the government on the need to incorporate in the bill concerning oil production and refinery penal clauses to ensure that the people and environment are not affected during oil exploitation in Lake Albert and Uganda as a whole.

As a party, it is important to address this topic. First and foremost, article 39 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides for the rights to a clean environment. Thus, every Ugandan has a right to a clean and healthy environment. Basing on this, the Conservative Party has felt with great concern the need for parliament to provide within an appropriate time penal clauses for the protection of people and environment during oil exploitation in Uganda mainly around Lake Albert.

In addition to the above, the state of environment in 2010 was bold enough to reveal the petroleum related impacts like noise, vibration from heavy equipments, vegetation clearance plus hydrological changes and drainage may not spare wild life in the Albertin Graben. 

The same report indicated that oil related activities will lead to disturbance of local population and wild life. As if this is not enough, there will be contamination of soils, water and air through periodic flaring, gas emissions, used chemicals, waste and accumulated wax… yet the petroleum bill is silent about this.

 

E. Parliament to amend article 244 of the constitution to provide penal clauses for the protection of the environment and the people from the hazards related to petroleum production and refinery.

 This issue is still in the process and I believe it will be considered at any future sitting of parliament. However, I will keep you informed of any progress in case and I will keep in touch with my party in case of any information concerning this topic.

 

F.         Evaluation in relation to the overall goal and project aim.

 

G.        Give any other comments.

Semusu Mugobansonga 

Secretary General

Conservative Party

--
UAH forum is devoted to matters of interest to Ugandans. Individuals are responsible for whatever they post on this forum.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or Abbey Semuwemba at: abbeysemuwemba@gmail.com.