The women are collectively calling for affirmative action to have them fully prepared and engaged to benefit from the oil discovery. They equally decry the high level of corruption that, according to them, has stifled opportunities for women.
Women in the Albertine Graben are blaming their leaders for sidelining them in ongoing activities within the oil and gas sector. Many say that they are not aware of any opportunities that the natural resource presents for them all through the value chain.
Uganda has an estimated 6.5 billion barrels of oil, 1.4 billion of which are recoverable. The government and a number of industry players have undertaken a number of activities, moving from exploration to the production phase, as the country plans for the first oil barrel, expected out of the ground after 2020.
However, Beatrice Rukanyanga, a resident of Kitoba Sub County in Hoima district explains that meetings and other activities related to the discovery and the much anticipated production of oil have been dominated by men.
The women are collectively calling for affirmative action to have them fully prepared and engaged to benefit from the oil discovery. They equally decry the high level of corruption that, according to them, has stifled opportunities for women.
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James Muhindo, the National Coordinator of the Civil Society Coalition on Oil and Gas faults the government for being reactive while addressing issues pertaining to women participation in the oil and gas sector. He says the government needs to benchmark from other oil producing companies in order to ensure that women are on board.
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Nasser Biira Kiwanuka, the Executive Director Midwestern Anti- corruption coalition- IRAC says women have shown less interest in ongoing activities and advises that the government comes up with an initiative that deliberately attracts women to participate in the sector.
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But Kirungi Kadir, the Hoima LCV Chairperson downplays the reports saying that the district has already introduced several programmes through which women are specifically targeted to participate and compete favorably in the oil and gas sector.
