International
Ugandans take oil transparency message to 10 Downing Street
Vincent Magombe, Lee Opiyo Oryema, William Nkata Masembe and Belinda Atim outside number 10
A group of Ugandans in the London Diaspora have delivered an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron on behalf of over 200 civil society activists from their home country. The petition calls on the British government to force oil, gas and mining companies registered in the UK to be more transparent in their operations abroad.
Belinda Atim, one of the civil society activists who handed over the petition, said:
“I am proud to be representing the voices of over 200 activists from across Uganda who are calling for transparency in the oil industry. Today we sent Prime Minister Cameron the clear message that Ugandans need his support so that the resource course that has blighted so many of our neighbours in Africa doesn’t come to Uganda. By introducing a law that forces companies like Tullow Oil to publish all their payments to governments, David Cameron can make sure activists like me can get the information we desperately need to hold our leaders to account. We are determined to make sure that the huge revenues the government will generate from oil are used to help the people of Uganda, not to line the pockets of the wealthy elite.”
Uganda will soon be producing large quantities of oil, which has the potential to transform the country’s economy and help lift people out of poverty. However, the Production Sharing Agreements have been kept secret by the Ugandan Government despite repeated attempts by journalists and civil society to access the contracts. Currently there is no provision in place for publishing payments received once production begins.
The US passed a law last July as part of the Dodd-Frank Act which will mean all extractive companies registered in America will have to publish all their payments to the governments in every country they operate. ONE is now campaigning for a similar law in Europe. The key company operating in Uganda, Tullow Oil, is not listed in the US so will only have to disclose their payments once Europe follows suit.
The UK Chancellor George Osborne has pledged his support to the new law and has promised to push European legislation. Nearly 10,000 ONE members have signed a petition urging him to act as swiftly as possible.
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The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
01/04/2011 at 7:30 pm
I hope Uganda uses the revenue for green energy projects, oil will not last for ever & its dirty & Toxic, once oil is gone its gone. If Uganda takes the right path now, they will have green energy or power for industry for water pumping stations for irrigation for production. This is all dependant on Uganda getting a fair price for oil & the revenue being used for the benefit of development of the Ugandan people within Uganda.
04/04/2011 at 4:31 am
Yes, I hope that the money goes back to the people and not in the pockets of governments and officials at both ends of the markets, for lord knows what purpose or just for selfish personal gain!! This aftermath happening in other African countries when external bodies are doing business with local governments or bodies and profiting immensely back in their home countries at the expense of innocent human lives and for little or no money at all at times!
04/04/2011 at 4:45 am
Oh yes and to add further! A shameful practice continuing everywhere! What is Africa an easy target? From apartheid to ” the art of business for who…?” which now has to be abolished as the first mentioned! This obviously doesn’t give African nations a fair starting chance nor similar nations with little power or knowledge of what is hovering around them! Yet these invading nations propagate equality, peace and so forth but behind the scenes are getting away with all sorts of questionable activities! Lord forbid other nations in the same circumstances to fall under the same consequences if they haven’t already or are not being targeted for this type of illegal activity! If not stopped or met at the right moment they will lead to a trail of events that may not be positive or prosperous for the people who live in these countries.