Archive for category: education

HOIMA – The China National Offshore Oil Corporation [CNOOC] Uganda Ltd has restored hope to the government and Ugandans interested in tapping from the oil and gas sector after Company officials declared that the Final Investment Decision [FID] will be ready next year.

FID is the point in the capital project planning process when the decision to make major financial commitments is taken by International Oil Companies. At the FID point, major equipment orders are placed and contracts are signed by Engineering, Procurement, and Construction [EPC] companies.

The project execution phase commences shortly after the FID with significant expenditure on building the production facilities.

There has been negotiation between government and oil companies such as TotalEnergies with Joint Venture Partners,China National Offshore Oil Corporation [CNOOC] to sign the FID but up to now, nothing has been done.

Recently, the State Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Peter Aimat Lokeris criticized oil companies operating in the Albertine graben for the delayed signing of the FID, adding that the government was ready to sign the FID and blamed the oil companies for the delays.

He explained that there is a fear that in the next 20 years the prices of oil might go down which may make the government lose money that is investing in the industry.

However, speaking during the annual CNOOC Uganda media engagement at Kingfisher Development Area in Buhuka parish Kikuube District, the Head of Corporate Affairs, Zakaliya Lubega said that the company is determined to deliver the FID by 2022.

The FID is not an event but rather a process that has been ongoing across the board for all partners, where you want to acquire the land, have Environment and Social Impact Assessment [ESIA] study undertaken and approved, go through procurement processes for the big contracts, all these take a lot of time and resources.

He said they have been waiting for the government to put in place enabling laws to ensure that there is proper legislation under which the companies would operate.

We were going through that process to ensure that when we make an announcement of FID, nothing is going to stop us. And now that everything seems to be ready, we are one leg into FID and the other leg is closely following.”

The pronouncement comes three weeks after parliament passed the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Special Provisions Bill 2021, and the amendments of both the Income Tax Act and the Public Finance Management Act [PFMA].

Lubega told reporters that some contracts in KingFisher Development Area [KFDA] like in well pad development have already been awarded while others are pending approval after being given Conditional Letters of Awards.

He added that the contract of well pad development has already been awarded and the contractor will be mobilizing the site soon.

Once announced, the FID will unlock a $15b investment by CNOOC and Total in the next 3 to 5 years.

“Technically, we are into development. When we make the announcement early next year, in the next 36 to 40 months, we shall have oil out but our main target is 2025,” Lubega revealed.

He noted that oil is still in the ground and expressed concern over some people speculating that oil is being stolen, adding that these are propagandists who want to mislead the public.

CNOOC is taking the Kingfisher oil field in Buhuka parish Kyangwali sub-county in Kikuube district onshore of Lake Albert.

Kingfisher field development area is spread over approximately 344km2 in the Lake Albert Rift Basin in western Uganda.

The oil field is situated on the eastern bank of Lake Albert, which acts as a border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was discovered by the Kingfisher-1 wildcat well in 2006.

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MASINDI – The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja has pledged eight tractors to the Abafumambogo clan members in an effort to uplift their economic status.

Nabbanja made the pledge while speaking as Chief Guest at the Annual General Meeting [AGM] for the members of Abafumambogo clan SACCO in Bunyoro region held in Kyamujwaara cell, Nyangahya division, Masindi district.

She said each of the eight districts in Bunyoro will get a tractor that will belong to the clan members in the district.

The districts include: Kakumiro, Kibaale,Kagadi, Kikuube, Hoima, Buliisa, Kiryandongo and Masindi.

Nabbanja also pledged Shs 55million towards the Abafumambogo clan SACCO to enable members to access loans to boost their businesses.

Nabbanja who is also a member of Abafumambogo clan said, it should benefit all the members of the SACCO.

She hailed the leadership of the clan SACCO in the region led by Godfrey Musindi for uniting the clan members and even starting up a SACCO.

She further said it is in line with the NRM government’s agenda of fighting poverty in the country.

Nabbanja was responding to an earlier request made by Godfrey Musindi, the clan SACCO Chairman for assistance with clan members.

Musindi told theCooperator that he will travel to Kampala this week to inspect the tractors and to ascertain when the SACCO money is expected to be wired on the account.

The Abafumambogo clan SACCO comprises more than 300 active members in the different districts of Bunyoro.

He noted that they’re going to use the tractors to boost farming amongst the members.

“Our vision is to start doing farming on a large scale as members. We are planning many things such that we can grow and become a model SACCO,” he explained.

Nabbanja earlier made a stopover at a function organized by Masindi Municipality Mayor, Ronald Kyomuhendo Businge where mass was led by Father Birungi Akiiki from Nyamigisa catholic church.

Councilors’ SACCO given Shs 10 million

Nabbanja also gave Shs 10 million to Masindi Councillors’ SACCO to boost them by getting small loans.

The leadership of Masindi Municipality used the same opportunity and asked the Prime Minister to help them acquire road maintenance equipment to improve the road network in Bunyoro.

“We are struggling to maintain the roads because the equipment we have is in a pathetic situation and it keeps breaking down,” said Kyomuhendo the Mayor Masindi Municipality.

Joab Businge, the Member of Parliament for Masindi Municipality asked the Prime Minister to help Masindi Municipality areas get connected to the national grid.

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SOROTI – Soroti district Resident District Commissioner [RDC], Stephen Okumu, has cracked down on more than 10 tons of marijuana.

The operation follows a community outcry by Oculoi sub-county residents, Soroti district over the increasing number of children taking to marijuana.

According to Okumu, they mounted a search for the marijuana growers in Oculoi sub-county after being tipped by the community.

The perpetrators whose livelihood has been solely dependent on opium had it grown on acres for years without a license from the government.

Okumu says, after securing a court order, they destroyed the marijuana and are in search of the perpetrators who are still at large.

“The search for the perpetrators is still ongoing and once arrested they will be an example to those engaging in this criminality.”

Okumu further advised parents to watch out and safeguard their children from the consumption of the drug, as it is dangerous to their health and many end up insane.

The perpetrators deceive unsuspecting residents that they are licensed by the government and yet they are producing it illegally, says the RDC.

Meanwhile, Margret Aanyu, the Soroti district Chief Magistrate says, this act is not acceptable and those found should be dealt with according to the law.

She revealed that some samples have been kept at the police station to serve as exhibits when perpetrators are arrested.

“I gave a court order for their arrest but they managed to escape this will not end here. Wherever they are, they should know that they are answerable for their actions, “Aanyu said.

She encouraged those who have ears to heed the advice because they will be held culpable for these criminal actions.

“The punishment is very harsh so don’t even think of trying it,” Aanyu says.

Sarah Atiang, one of the victims whose son started smoking marijuana condemned the act as satanic.

Atiang told theCooperator that she only realized her son was smoking marijuana after he attempted to beat her up.

“My son dropped out of school and has been asking for money from me and I would give him hope that he would reform. But on this particular day, I failed to give him and he almost beat me up,” said Atiang.

James Otim, a farmer and father of five says, youths have found refuge in drugs instead of being productive and helping their parents.

He urges the government to come up with strict measures that can address this illegal business.

Otim adds that there are many businesses someone can venture into and wonders why this kind of business is against the law?

“Why would someone mentally upright venture in this kind of business, aware that its dangerous, Otim asked.

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