New oil laws to be set next month

By Henry Sekanjako

The deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah has assured Ugandans that the executive will table all required petroleum management laws as soon as Parliament resumes next month (February). 

This follows the expiry of the 30 days that the government was given to table laws that will govern the oil and gas sector.

Oulanyah said there is need to identify problems that are likely to affect the oil sector and find solutions to them.

“As legislators, we need to see how these policies can be implemented. Oil is a very important sector. Therefore, we need to share knowledge and experiences across the board,” he said.

Oulanyah made the remarks on Tuesday during a conference on oil and gas at hotel Africana in Kampala. The function was organized by the parliamentary committee on natural resources.

The Members of Parliament expressed concern that the government had delayed to have laws governing the oil sector tabled in Parliament, saying this might affect the oil and gas industry.

Roland Mugume (MP Rukungiri municipality) said the law should be put in place to allow a peaceful operational environment for the oil industry.

He explained that the public should be involved to ensure easy and successful implementation of the laws.

When asked whether the petroleum policy that was introduced in 2008 had not become invalid, Oulanyah said the law was valid until new laws are put in place.