By Johnson Kanyesige
Human Rights Defenders and Civil Society Organizations in Bunyoro region and the country at large have been tasked to exhibit transparency in their promotion of human rights in the extractives sector.
Many Stop EACOP protests have happened along Kampala streets and in the Albertine region, with the protesters calling for the halting of the project development due to environmental and human rights concerns.
However, during a one-day media training organized by Citizens Concern Africa at Kontik Hotel on Thursday, Robert Kirenga, the executive director of the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda called for honesty and openness in the name of promotion of human rights noting that local players need to understand the international geopolitics.
Kirenga instead calls for more voices to push duty bearers to address human rights concerns instead of calling for the halting of these projects which involve many stakeholders.
Uthuman Mubarak, the Hoima District LCV Chairperson called for an affirmative action in the promotion of local content such that more locals are able to secure jobs in the oil and gas sector.
Sam Mugisa, the Social Corporate Affairs officer at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has however highlighted that 90% of the current jobs in the oil sector are being owned by Ugandans and more locals have been skilled in different areas like welding, driving among others.
Andrew Mafundo, the executive director of Citizens Concern Africa disclosed that the training comes as a boost to media practioners in Bunyoro region such that they can become voices of the local people whose rights have been abused and push duty bearers to address the concerns regarding oil and gas governance, human rights and community engagements.
