Cecilia Ogwal Concerned by Govt’s Non-disclosure of Oil Transactions

Dokolo district woman Member of Parliament, Cecilia Ogwal has asked government to come out and publically declare the petroleum revenue generated from the on-going oil activities in the country.

Ogwal made the demands while on the floor of Parliament after discovering that the petroleum revenue is not disclosed anywhere in the budget framework paper for the financial year 2018/19, yet government had promised to withdraw Shs 125 billion of oil fund to the construction of the oil roads in Bunyoro.

The vocal opposition legislator raised allegations that Uganda’s oil in Bunyoro area is being sold discretely using trucks that move at night with unidentified cargo.

Ogwal said that government should come out and explain the status of the oil fund and whether there is money being accrued from rhe ongoing activities being undertaken in the country.

“I live in Bunyoro and it is not a secret to any of you, i have been informed that trucks are ferrying goods from the oil area. They operate from 8 pm to 5 am almost daily,” Ogwal said.

She related her skepticism to the doubt that was first cast by some MPs on the reports that sand was being mined and exported illegaly, only to discover later that it was true.

“Is government already collecting funds from the oil fields, whether from the discovered oil or its associated products? Are these products being traded or not? The status of the petroleum Fund needs to be disclosed not only to Parliament but also within the newspapers,” Ogwal demanded to know.

The Minister of State for Planning, David Bahati denied allegations that the oil was being stolen and instead said the Ministry of Internal Affairs and that of Energy will look into the matter and inform Parliament.