By Gerald Tenywa

CIVIL society organisations have backed the ongoing exploitation of fossil fuels in western Uganda.

They noted that the project would address underdevelopment and poverty in the country.

The organisations made the observation while touring Tullow Oil wells in Buseruka sub-county in Hoima district recently.

The fact-finding mission was organised by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

The NEMA chief, Dr. Aryamanya Mugisha, said public hearings were also conducted.

“The views expressed during public hearings will be integrated into the environment impact assessment (EIA),” he said.

The EIA is a study undertaken to establish the environmental, social and ecological impacts of a project.
It also spells out mitigation measures to ensure that the negative impacts are minimised.

In a statement, published in The New Vision on Wednesday, the organisations, led by the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment, opposed the early production of oil inside Kaiso-Tonya Wildlife Reserve.

“The choice of Kaiso-Tonya Wildlife Reserve is based on Tullow’s narrow perspective and the desire to cut down on the construction and operational costs, ignoring key factors of economic, social and environmental importance,” the statement said. They suggested that the oil refinery should be located outside the park.

The consortium, that included the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and the Uganda Debt Network said a comprehensive EIA be conducted on the Albertine rift valley.