Oil gossip overshadows productive agriculture

Sep 28, 2011

PRESIDENT Museveni visited Hoima last week to commission a science laboratory block at Canon Njangali Girls High school and a pediatric ward at Azur Christian health centre.

By Amlan Tumusiime

PRESIDENT Museveni visited Hoima last week to commission a science laboratory block at Canon Njangali Girls High school and a pediatric ward at Azur Christian health centre.

The President cautioned people against focusing much on oil but instead implored them to promote agriculture and industrialization.

Eversince the discovery of oil in Bunyoro, many people spend much time discussing oil rather than engaging in commercial agriculture. This is dangerous because people are becoming reluctant to work in anticipation of free oil money.

People expect to benefit from the oil industry through employment opportunities which may not be obvious due its competitive nature.

So when the President talks of oil diverting people from their traditional livelihood of agriculture and industrialization, he should be supported because Bunyoro is endowed with fertile soils and is capable of becoming a national food basket.

The refugees in in Kyangwali refugee camp are self reliant because they have taken advantage of the fertile soils in Bunyoro.

It is unfortunate that some people in Bunyoro have not adhered to the Government’s call to embrace commercial agriculture.

Moses Byaruhanga’s recent promotion of commercial agriculture has helped improve food security and productivity of the youth.

His efforts coupled with those of the President’s prosperity for all programme have already yielded fruits. Several youth are enjoying a bumper harvest of maize, rice and pineapples due to the President’s prosperity for all tour in Bunyoro in 2008.

Leaders should prepare the population to benefit from the oil industry through provision of services like food stuffs instead of focusing on discussing oil revenues.

The King of Bunyoro, Solomon Gafabusa Iguru recently said that when he visited Tullow Oil headquarters in London, its Chief Executive assured him that Tullow did not have any problem of extending opportunities like provision of services to the company by the locals.

With Hoima now in advanced stages of producing hydro electric power of nine mega watts worth sh83b at Wambabya river, the region will soon boast of having adequate power for industrial development.


The writer is the chairman Keep NRM Alive Bunyoro Task Force

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