We need collective effort for success and development
Dec 29, 2006
SIR — Trust Ugandans to come up with all sorts of theories regarding the recent discovery of oil. Some people are claiming: “Oil in Bunyoro is from the Libyan oil bed, if we explore it, Libya is in trouble… why do you think Gadaffi is always in Toro?â€
SIR — Trust Ugandans to come up with all sorts of theories regarding the recent discovery of oil. Some people are claiming: “Oil in Bunyoro is from the Libyan oil bed, if we explore it, Libya is in trouble… why do you think Gadaffi is always in Toro?â€
There are high expectations among all Ugandans, right from the peasant in Bunyoro to the tycoon in Kampala.
However, before we all get carried away, has anyone heard of the story of the ‘black curse’?
Many nations have suffered with the abundant “jackpot†natural resources. We only have to look at the recent 200 deaths resulting from an oil pipe blast in the Niger delta in what is becoming a religiously occurring calamity.
Others have happened before! People thinking of the United Arab Emirates will be shocked by the levels of inequality there.
all the magnificent wealth is vested in a handful of Sultans and surely that is not what Uganda desires.
The only way that all Ugandans can benefit from the oil is through a collective government and citizen effort to stamp out corruption, focus on education and infrastructural development.
Most resource success stories have been a result of collective citizen and government effort, not a father Christmas attitude that sleeps on while government delivers the surprise.
Having high expectations is no offence but there should be a committed effort to back these expectations.
That is the challenge for you and me as responsible Ugandans.
Joseph Kasule
University of Birmingham
There are high expectations among all Ugandans, right from the peasant in Bunyoro to the tycoon in Kampala.
However, before we all get carried away, has anyone heard of the story of the ‘black curse’?
Many nations have suffered with the abundant “jackpot†natural resources. We only have to look at the recent 200 deaths resulting from an oil pipe blast in the Niger delta in what is becoming a religiously occurring calamity.
Others have happened before! People thinking of the United Arab Emirates will be shocked by the levels of inequality there.
all the magnificent wealth is vested in a handful of Sultans and surely that is not what Uganda desires.
The only way that all Ugandans can benefit from the oil is through a collective government and citizen effort to stamp out corruption, focus on education and infrastructural development.
Most resource success stories have been a result of collective citizen and government effort, not a father Christmas attitude that sleeps on while government delivers the surprise.
Having high expectations is no offence but there should be a committed effort to back these expectations.
That is the challenge for you and me as responsible Ugandans.
Joseph Kasule
University of Birmingham