THE US ambassador to Uganda, Jerry Lanier, has added to calls for transparency and accountability in Uganda’s oil sector.
“There may be reasons for withholding some detailed information about oil agreements because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. But when public money is involved, I think it’s a good practice to make it as open and as transparent as possible,” the ambassador said.
Lanier, who was meeting journalists at the US embassy in Kampala recently, said it was important that Uganda’s oil sector starts from a note of transparency and ofpublic accountability.
His comments follow a long list of calls for accountability in Uganda’s oil sector coming from international organisations, civil society organisations, environmental groups and individuals.
Lanier disclosed that there were plenty of ideas on how Uganda can avoid the oil resource curse.
“Norway has offered to assist Uganda manage her oil resources. The US government has also offered and will be offering assistance to the Government in the management of oil resources,” he said.
“We hope that the revenues that will come in will be used wisely and for the benefit of Ugandans,” he added.
Little is still known about the details of the profit - sharing agreements which the Government has struck with leading oil companies, Tullow and Heritage. No information has been made publicly.
The two firms have successfully prospected and confirmed the existence of over two billion barrels of oil in the Albertine Graben. in Western Uganda.
