Bunyoro MPs want regional tier embraced

By Moses Walubiri  

A day after the Vice president, Edward Ssekandi, urged Mengo to embrace the regional tier, MPs from oil rich Bunyoro have called upon government to expedite its operationalization citing its administrative advantages.

In an interface with the natural resources committee at parliament, the MPs noted that Bunyoro as a region will be better placed to benefit from loyalties accruing from oil exploration with the regional tier system of administration in place.

This, they contend, will foster better planning and utilization of the funds.

"When the money from loyalties is agreed upon, it will go to the regional government as an entity rather than small districts.

The regional government can then decide how best to invest it either in education, hospitals, or environmental protection," Bunyoro parliamentary caucus chairperson, Ernest Kiiza said.

Kiiza noted that Bunyoro region accepted the regional tier government, and demanded that government makes an explanation why the system has stalled since its intended July 2006 inception.  

Provided for under Article 178 of the constitution, the regional tier is a system of political administration where two or more districts form a regional government.

However, since 2005 when the constitution was amended to enshrine this provision, no districts have put into effect the arrangement.  

Meanwhile, Bunyoro MPs want 10% of oil revenues to go to Bunyoro region. This figure is at variance with that demanded by the king of Bunyoro (12%) and what government has mooted (7%) in the Finance Bill 2012.

This, they noted, will go a long way in addressing the poverty, humiliation and marginalization stemming back from colonial times.

They said that the National Oil and Gas policy left out the kingdom as the rightful direct beneficiaries of the oil wealth.

Mukitale Birahwa said that it's only fair to give Bunyoro region affirmative action on oil revenues since the region will bear the brunt of environmental challenges associated with oil exploration.

Sam Otada, Helen Kahunde, Bintu Jalia and Kaahwa Tophace said giving Bunyoro 10% royalties in oil revenues "will make the people in the region to own the project."  

Bunyoro sub region is composed of the districts of Kiryandongo, Masindi, Bulisa, Kibale and Hoima, with almost the entire oil rich Albertine Graben straddling through it.

The Natural Resources committee is receiving opinions over two oil bills: Exploration, Development and Production Bill, 2012, and The Petroleum (Refining, Gas Processing and Conversion, Transportation and Storage) Bill 2012.