Parliament Condemns EU Resolution to Stop Uganda’s Oil and Gas Projects

Parliament has condemned a resolution from European Parliament calling on Uganda and Tanzania to stop the development of oil and gas projects in the East African region.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa on Thursday during plenary sitting that the EU parliament passed a motion and resolutions to stop oil and gas projects such as Tilenga, Kingfisher and East African Crude Oil Pipeline(EACOP). The same motion advised EU membership not to render any diplomatic, financial, or other support to our oil and gas projects.

According to Tayebwa, this motion and resolution premised on allegations of potential environmental impacts, human rights abuses and climate change targets, is based on misinformation and deliberate misrepresentation of key facts on environment and human rights protection.

“The Parliament of the Republic of Uganda condemns the motion for a resolution by the European Union Parliament that calls on the Uganda and Tanzania to stop the development of the oil and gas projects in the East African region,” he said.

“The resolution is based on misinformation and deliberate misrepresentation of key facts on environment and human rights protection. It represents the highest level on neo-colonialism and imperialism against the sovereignty of Uganda and Tanzania.”

Tayebwa said the motion curtails the progress of Uganda's oil and gas developments.

“It also seeks to deny Ugandans and East Africans the benefits and opportunities from the oil and gas sector. This represents the highest form of Economic Racism against developing countries,” Tayebwa said.

The EU resolution largely targets the 1445 kilometer East African Crude Oil Pipeline, which will run for 296 kilometers in Uganda. The EACOP represents less than 0.1% of the operational global pipeline network of 1.18million Kilometres.

MPs joined Tayebwa to condemn the resolution, saying Europe should leave Uganda to run its affairs and sovereignty.

“Uganda is not part of European parliament; Uganda is part of East African Legislative Assembly. If it was EALA discussing this then we would be thinking a lot. We don’t need to bother a lot with them,” Soi County Abdi Chemaswet said.

Kumi Municipality MP Silas Aogon said, “I express my dismay that another parliament somewhere can rise up to take a decision on behalf of another parliament.”