By Flavia Ajok
The Omukama of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom His Highness Solomon Gafabusa Rukairabasaija Iguru has tasked the opposition in the country to jealously support the East African Crude Oil Pipeline -EACOP project and reject the EU Parliament decision to stay it for a year.
Speaking on behalf of the Omukama while hosting a delegation of Opposition MPs at the Kingdom Palace on Friday, Andrew Byakutaga, the Prime minister Bunyoro Kitara kingdom says the Omukama is not happy with the EU Parliament over a resolution to stay the pipeline for a year.
Byakutaga says the Kingdom is deeply disturbed by the decision taken by the EU Parliament to halt the EACOP project saying the EU Parliament should not be allowed to deliberate on the oil developments in Uganda.
Byakutaga says the Kingdom is concerned that the delay could frustrate the development of oil and gas infrastructure needed to pump oil out of Bunyoro Kingdom adding that all the allegations being made by the EU Parliament are baseless.
Byakutaga says the opposition should thoroughly read the EU Parliament resolution on the EACOP and get the correct information so that they can come up with a comprehensive report to facilitate the progress of the EACOP project but not halting it.
According to Byakataga, the oil and gas discovery in the Kingdom has already started boosting economic activities including trade, improvement in road network, health services, education and job opportunities.
Mathias Mpuuga, the leader of Opposition in Parliament who led a delegation of the opposition MPs to the Kingdom palace, supported the kingdom’s move to protest the EU Parliament resolution on EACOP saying the oil and gas activities should be left to go on smoothly without any sabotage.
Mpuuga further reveals that the delegation of the opposition MPs is in Bunyoro to find out challenges affecting the people of Bunyoro and how the challenges can be amicably addressed adding that while in the region, the team will visit several institutions including health facilities, schools, farmers and other government projects being undertaken.
Abed Bwanika, the shadow minister for Agriculture too, says the oil discovered in Bunyoro is a resource for the entire country and therefore whoever tries to sabotage the oil project should be looked at as an enemy of development.
