What economic promise would the discovery of oil offer Karamoja?

 By Phillo Aryatwijuka

The recent launch of oil exploration activities in the Moroto-Kadam basin by the government has raised expectations on the possible discovery of oil in Karamoja region, a region that has been looming in conflict and poverty for many decades.

For Karamoja oil exploration activities are coming at a time when the key legal framework is in place particularly the oil and gas policy 2008, the petroleum exploration, development and production act 2013 and the Public Finance and Management Act.   

Impressive to note was that the government kick started with some of the best practices in the extractives sector; the massive sensitization of communities in the Moroto-Kadam basin on the planned activities which is in line with Objective 7 of the National Oil and Gas Policy that recommends ensuring optimum national participation in oil and gas activities

The recent news report on the launch of oil exploration activities quotes the energy state minister Peter Lokeris saying “that once oil is discovered in this area we shall be the envy of other areas. We shall have investments and services here”

The reality in achieving this is far from easy taking lessons from some of the challenges encountered in the exploration activities from Uganda’s Albertine region. Is the Albertine region envy to other regions in Uganda since oil discovery? In my opinion it’s not! The challenges brought about oil discovery in the Albertine now range from inadequate and unfair compensation, non-resettlement claims ,  land grabbing, abuse of human rights among others

How then can government use lessons learnt from the Albertine to deliver the economic promises that the possible discovery of oil could bring for a region? A region with a population of just 1.2M people and 74.2 percent of this population living below the poverty line!  

Ultimately the issue of respect of land rights of Karamojong communities should be put at the forefront during exploration. Land for Karamojong communities and everywhere in Uganda is a main source of capital and livelihood. For the Karamoja a large portion of land is entrusted in communal land holding. Considering the large based land acquisitions oil exploration activities require community consultations, permissions and fair and adequate compensation should be taken as critical issues throughout the whole process. Karamoja has overtime experienced the abuse of land rights in the extractives sector particularly in large scale land acquisitions by mining companies and this vulnerability could be worsened by the proposed amendment of article 26 of the constitution.

On the other hand the exploration area of Kadam-Moroto basin stretches within a fragile ecosystem where we have the Pian-Upe game reserve home to wildlife and unique flora and fauna. In appreciation of this oil exploration activities should be cognizant with the protection of wildlife.

Moving forward Uganda has already treaded the road of oil discovery in the Albertine region that has been marred by abuse of human rights and Ugandans particularly the Karamojong communities expect better this time.

LET’S INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO SAVE OUR WETLANDS

https://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Letters/Intensify-efforts-save-wetlands/806314-4322084-dg17sr/index.html 

By Phillo Aryatwijuka, 

 LET’S INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO SAVE OUR WETLANDS

Last month as I was travelling along Masaka road I could not help but notice some of the changes on one of the big swamps as compared to ten years ago when I used the same road. While trying to share this with a friend I was travelling with he was quick to note “what’s with all this fuss about the swamp? China is one of the biggest growing economies, do they care about swamps? On the contrary they don’t!”

Considering that 80% of the population is dependent on agriculture and Uganda being an agricultural driven economy, natural resources like wetlands offers immense values and functions. These values and functions have been on several occasions reiterated by the President of Uganda who consistently sent out strong and clear messages in on the protection and sustainable use of wetlands during his several visits across the country notably at Kanyamatambara Village of Kyangyenyi Sub- County in Sheema district, Rushoroza Seed School in Kihihi and during his address to the congregation attending Easter Sunday church service at St. Matthew Cathedral, Kyamate in Ntungamo district last year.

According to the report of the state house media center April 2017, The President during his address to the congregation at St. Matthew Cathedral, Kyamate affirmed that “Wetlands are water reservoirs. They must be conserved. Any encroachment on wetlands is disastrous. If wetlands are drained, where shall farmers access water for irrigation? How can one light fire in a granary?” he queried. Without doubt the president’s message clearly reflects to our wetlands, our life!

It should be noted that since 1994 to date Ugandan Wetlands have been disappearing at an alarming rate mostly attributed to human factors; population and urbanization being on the rise thus encroachment for agriculture, human settlements among others as highlighted in the Uganda Wetlands Atlas Volume two launched February Last year by the Ministry of Water and Environment in collaboration with UNEP which highlighted that wetland resources are 11% of the total land area

The question now is how then we can help our greater communities to understand the value of wetlands most importantly that they are not being chased from using wetlands but rather encouraged to use wetlands sustainably while appreciating their special roles in ensuring water quality, flood control as well as their roles in enhancing resilience of communities to climate change.

On the other hand how do we deal with private sector investments that encroach on wetlands? The private sector has overtime taken advantage of these ecosystem services and sometimes misused them at an expense of other Ugandans. If we are to save our wetlands we need to expedite the process of cancelling all the titles in our wetlands and stop any title issuance. Communities have overtime complained that the government chases the “small fish” while leaving the “big fish” to enjoy the water alone.

Currently the ongoing review of the 23 year old Uganda National Policy for the Conservation and Management of Wetland Resources 1995 and the draft Bill by the Ministry of Water and Environment in collaboration with Partners for Resilience through the Integrated Risk Management (IRM) Wetlands Project provides Uganda and Ugandans a timely opportunity to come up with a comprehensive legislative framework and strategies that addresses key emerging issues that contribute to the degradation of this resource.

WHO IS TO BLAME FOR MINING COMPANIES MISCONDUCT IN KARAMOJA

 

https://chimpreports.com/opinion-who-is-to-blame-for-mining-companies-misconduct-in-karamoja/

By Aryatwijuka Phillo, 

The recent allegations on the failure by DAO Marble Africa Limited a mining company in Rupa Sub County in Moroto District over failure to pay over twenty employee salaries is an early eye opener for the budding Karamoja’s mining sector investments considering that over 64% of land in Karamoja is already under concessions . The prospect of conducting an airborne geophysical survey is likely to make the region more lucrative for mining investments consequently bringing more mining companies in the region.

The question now remains how the government is prepared to ensure that these mining companies respect human rights, environmental rights and community rights at large.

At the recent Karamoja Mining Symposium Civil Society Organizations working on mining governance in Karamoja presented a civil society position with one of their key concerns being the lack of a clear framework for engaging private sector companies in the mining sector in Karamoja. This concern was grounded in the various issues already expressed by mining communities in Karamoja citing the general lack of involvement of communities in different processes of licensing and acquisition of mining concessions by mining companies despite indigenous communities’ rights on participation and decision making.  

Overtime communities in Rupa have been disgruntled citing that three years ago when DAO marble Africa Limited acquired a mining lease their expectations on the investment were high with the hope that they will benefit from the employment opportunities, infrastructure development, revenues, increased royalties and other benefits that accrue from such a big investment in their region

It’s now three years of DAO Marble Africa Limited in Rupa Sub County and these allegations are setting a precedent of a mining company that has not lived up to its expectations by abusing the rights of people and host communities.

How else can we not call the failure of DAO to honor its salary obligations it owes to its workers a human rights abuse? Host communities are left wondering if these mining investments are worth the cost of destruction of their land and environment that is a source of their livelihood by huge excavations done by these mining companies.

Ultimately host communities feel letdown by the government and as such in need of urgent action. Now that DAO Marble Africa Limited top management have disappeared from the site as alleged, who will pay the unpaid wages for these workers? Which compliance mechanisms will the government put in place to ensure that in future mining companies’ employees’ rights are respected?

Looking back the recent Karamoja Mining Symposium envisioned a mining sector in Karamoja that is sustainable and as part of the recommendations to achieve that the CSO actors were emphatic on the urgent need to prioritize the amendment of the current legal and regulatory framework mainly the mineral policy 2001,the mining act 2003.These should clearly streamline the framework for community engagement with the mining companies, strictly put in place regulations to monitor compliance of these companies to community rights, environment protection standards and compliance to tax.

In that way the government will enhance the development of a sustainable mining sector in Karamoja sub region

 

KARAMOJA MINES FULL OF EMPTY PROMISES FOR CHILDREN MINERS

 https://chimpreports.com/opinion-karamoja-mines-full-of-empty-promises-for-child-miners/

By Philloh  Aryatwijuka

The question of the increase of child labor in mining in Karamoja region has for long been kept in the background despite Uganda having in place the child Labor policy 2006 and the National Action Plan  for the elimination of Child Labor which focuses on operationalizing the policy. Ugandan government has gone a step ahead to ratify the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UN conventions pertaining to child labor and streamlined these in national legislation such as the Employment Act, the National Constitution and the Children’s Act. Despite this child labor in mining is currently on the rise across all regions in Uganda.

According to the recent report “No Golden Future” published by Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations in April 2016, the number of children gold miners was estimated between 10,000 to 15,000 across gold mines in Uganda in some of the rich mineral districts like Moroto,Mubende,Namayingo,Buhweju

The International Labor Organization categorizes mining as hazardous work to children and defines it as worst form of child labor.In Karamoja one visit at a gold or marble mining site you will be amazed by the number of children at any one mining site involved in mining activities from digging tunnels,shoveling the soil,panning to a little boy of as young as 5 years fetching water.The question now remains what kind of sustainable future do we expect to create for these exploited children who have dropped out of school for just a little day pay?Its clear that child labor will have devastating effects on Karamoja’s development if quick measures are not put forward to restrain it.

 Food insecurity has been singled out as one of the leading causes of child labor and high school drop outs in Karamoja despite universal primary education (UPE).This food insecurity is further reflected in the recent August 2016 analysis report issued by Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) which indicates that 16 percent will be stressed [5, 958, 155] while 1 percent [390, 165] most of whom are from Karamoja sub-region will be faced with food crisis.

The food insecurity question again clearly stood out during the recent mapping on child labor in mining conducted by Ecological Christian Organization(ECO) in gold and marble rich Rupa and Katikekile Sub County in Moroto district. Children clearly emphasized that they go to the mines to get money to buy food, pay school fees, scholastic materials and other needs since UPE comes with other additional costs.In the same regard the plight of the girl child is highly at risk because of the dangers eminent at the mining sites most of which are characterized by alcoholism thus increasing chances of early pregnancies,HIV/AIDs and rape and defilement.

Without question the government needs to holistically tackle child labor in Karamoja mining sector, actions on ensuring food security of families, provision of alternative livelihoods, enforcing legal provisions, raising awareness and providing comprehensive education support for children including meals without any additional costs is key. In addition there is need to ascertain the exact number and working conditions of children involved in mining in Uganda.

Develop artisanal small-scale mining sector in Karamoja

https://observer.ug/viewpoint/letters/47441-your-mail-develop-artisanal-small-scale-mining-sector-in-karamoja

Ten years ago, no one envisioned the current magnitude of the mining boom in Karamoja sub-region, an area that is now popular for its vast mineral resources like gold, marble, limestone, gypsum, etc, yet grappling with poverty.

Visit the gold and marble-rich Rupa and Tapac sub-counties in Moroto district and you will appreciate the Karamoja mining sector and the immense opportunities it holds for the people.

One wonders how a region well-endowed with abundant mineral wealth can be so engrossed in poverty with never-ending water scarcity, food insecurity, high infant mortality rates and poor infrastructure.

The answer is reflected in the exploitation that is prevalent in the mining sector and the continuous lack of regulations for the artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) sector considering that it employs over 20,000 people in the region, 80 per cent being women. If well developed, the ASM has the potential to stir economic development in the region and empower Karimojong women economically.

Currently, most miners are paid less, considering the workload. Because of the food insecurity, most miners, especially women, work for food, thus have no savings but more poverty as a result.

For the case of gold mining, the recovery level is still low as most people in ASM use rudimentary methods. To improve recovery, people may be forced to use mercury, a dangerous chemical that may contaminate the few water resources in the area.

The pricing of gold, too, continues to be low with continuous exploitation from middlemen characterized by payment in kind, mostly exchanging gold for alcohol in some mining communities. Overall, the revenues from the mining sector are not properly tracked, making it difficult to generate sufficient revenues.

For Karamoja to benefit from the mineral sector, responsible authorities must support community participation in decision-making, and development of regulations.

They should also facilitate the sector by formalizing ASM in associations for them to acquire location licenses, attain financial support to buy semi-mechanized tools to maximize efficient recovery in mining.

Government has to effectively regulate mining companies to check on their exploitative tendencies. It should also empower communities on their mining rights and entitlements.

Climate change poses insecurity, conflicts threats in Karamoja and neighboring regions

 By Phillo Aryatwijuka

https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1445111/climate-change-poses-insecurity-conflicts-threats-karamoja-neighboring-regions

The threat climate change poses to insecurity, conflict and communities' livelihood is more real than ever for a country where over 80% of the population is totally dependent on agriculture as their source of livelihood and the other 20% also dependent on the latter for affordable food and livestock supplies.

Our economy is also being threatened since to date agriculture remains the biggest contributor to the country's GDP. 

In Karamoja's case one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change, the situation is not any better with the prolonged dry spell and subsequent entry of over 3000 Turkana and Toposa pastoralists from Kenya and South Sudan respectively in Kaabongo district coming with over 50,000 livestock in search of water and pasture.

Considering that Karamoja region is already strained with scarce water resources and pasture, how do we expect resource conflicts not to arise from these massive movements? What is surprising is that for a region that's already constrained with evident climate change effects like prolonged drought other pastoralists from Sudan and Kenya are finding it a much better place. Are the host districts prepared to manage this pressure from incoming nomads incase the dry spell persists?

On the other hand it should be noted that the Karamojong pastoralists have also moved into the Sebei, Teso and Lango region into districts like Kween,Katakwi and Otuke. Already there is discontent among the Lango leaders on the Karamajong pastoralists entry into their region with allegations of food theft and fear of cattle rustling.

All these scenarios clearly reflect that the pastoralist way of life is bound to escalate resource conflicts evidenced by continuous resistance from host communities across the regions which are already constrained with food insecurity issues due to climate change coupled with the fear of grazing on the little pasture and use of the scarce water by the intruding pastoralists. This is a clear reflection that the nomad way of life which is a source of livelihood for the Karamojong is slowly going into extinction.

Again what if the dry spell persists and the little remaining pasture and water are completely strained in Karamoja, do we expect the Turkana and Sudanese nomads to stay in Kaabong and Moroto districts? The answer may be NO since there is no other way of life other than pastoralism for them. As such these nomads might move further into greener belts of Karamoja like Nakapiripirit and Napak districts and possibly further into Teso,Sebei and Lango causing more resource conflicts with the host communities.

Moving forward for the Ugandan government to solve transboundary resource sharing conflicts there is need to come out clearly and work with the Kenyan and Sudanese governments to address issues of climate adaptation for these communities to avoid these  climate change triggered movements.

On the part of Uganda there is an urgent need to earmark sufficient resources for adaptation, incorporating climate change mitigation and adaptation into district planning, investing in efficient metrological stations and research on climate.

Key for Karamoja is providing access to water for production for agriculture through irrigation that can enable growing of animal pasture, farming throughout the year thus food security, reduction of cattle herds and promoting modern farming like Zero grazing.

Will Uganda be able to fly into a new energy sustainable future?

The story published in the New Vision on March 11, 2015 on “solar plane starts leg two of the epic flight” just raises questions and at the same time answers for Uganda’s energy sector access initiatives.
The United Nations secretary general hailed the venture and congratulated the pilots and his spokesman went ahead to say “With their daring and determination, we can all fly into a new and sustainable future”

The question now remains: will Uganda fly into an energy sustainable future with the rest of the world and consequently achieve the objective of UN Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL)?

In Uganda more than 90% of the population does not have access to electricity, the biggest percentage being rural communities. A lot of efforts have been directed towards the Rural Electrification programme which is being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

The government of Uganda has overtime borrowed money for the Rural Electrification Programme a perfect example being the Energy for Rural Transformation Project (ERT) which is funded by the World Bank as a three-phase Adaptable Programme Loan (APL) valued at $135m.

The Programme Development Objective is to increase access to energy in rural areas. This project emphasizes registering successful implementation in the first phase of the Programme and the second phase (ERT II) is  currently under implementation up to June 2016 with preparations commencing for the third phase of the Programme expected to be effective by August 2014 to 2019(5years). 

Surprisingly despite the emphasis on registering success in the first phase of the ERT project REA failed to achieve its 10% target in ensuring electricity access to rural households.

REA acknowledges their failure and emphasizes that their Output Based Aid programme (OBA) is addressing challenges of affordability to ensure electricity access. Therefore there is need to appreciate that the failure of REA to achieve their targets will directly translate into the failure of Uganda to achieve an energy sustainable future

For Uganda to achieve a sustainable energy future there is need for such programmes to diversify and critically look at harnessing other renewable energy sources that are more appropriate for rural areas rather than concentrating on dam construction and connecting rural households on the national grid which has overtime proved un affordable.

A simple question REA should take into account in project initiation would be, how many rural households can be connected on clean energy sources like solar with the same $135m (UGX 351 billion) acquired from the World Bank for Energy for rural transformation project.

Barefoot Uganda, a solar provider offers solar panels supporting four bright lights for activities in four rooms ,two USB outputs on the controller allowing simple and easy charging of phones, radios and other devices plus  an output and cig plug socket allowing the  powering of 12V appliances costs $142.

This means that from this loan about 950,704 rural households in Uganda would have the chance to access decent, affordable and clean lighting energy solutions .It is therefore important for these projects to look back and evaluate the impact of their interventions and compare them with other alternative solutions.

By doing so Ugandans will gain access to diverse affordable sustainable energy sources and consequently achieve UN sustainable Energy for All Initiative  which is “to make energy access to 500m people in developing countries a reality by 2030”
http://www.newvision.co.ug/mobile/Detail.aspx?NewsID=666365&CatID=4

arphilloh@gmail.com