According to the statement released by the CSOs that included SEATINI Uganda, Oxfam, Federation for Small and Medium Enterprises and Uganda Small Scale Industry Association, the stimulus package has not yet reached many of the intended beneficiaries though it is now 13 months since the government issued the packages.
The concern by Civil Society Organizations comes days after President Yoweri Museveni ordered the suspension of DGF, the single biggest donor basket established by Development Partners to provide harmonized, coherent and well-coordinated support to state and non-state entities in the country.
The National Environment Management Authority -NEMA found 13 square miles, out of the 22 square miles, were unfit for sugar plantation; They were in a wetland and forest reserve, which should be conserved.
Addressing a press conference on Friday at the UGANET offices in Ntinda, ahead of the International Women’s Day celebrations, the activists say that despite efforts world over to recognize girls and women’s rights, their potential and self-determination continues to be affected.
But the Final Investment Decision which would constitute decisions made by various partners to inject money in projects to commercialize Uganda’s oil resource still eludes the country as joint venture partners Total E&P, China National Offshore Oil Company-CNOOC and Tullow Oil Plc continue to register setbacks to their efforts.
Dickens Amanya, the Coordinator Bunyoro Albertine Petroleum Network on Environment Coalition-PAPENECO, says they are getting concerned because there is no official statement from government regarding the matter since Total E$ P announced the suspension.
Kenneth Kumire, the Executive Director Communication for Health Uganda, says poor condom disposal is not only a health risk but also affects the environment since condoms don’t decompose.
According to the CSOs, oil companies operating in the region have not done much in conserving the environment yet their activities are a danger to the environment.
CSOs under the umbrella group Tax Justice Alliance Uganda demand that the 200 shillings per litre tax is maintained or even increased saying that the reduction in tax will lead to tremendous loss in government revenue.
