Drilling beyond borders

As oil and gas exploration gathers pace on Uganda’s north western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, efforts are being made to minimise conflicts among border communities but also to ensure that the border remains tension-free.

International Alert, in collaboration with one of the local partners - Rural Initiatives for Community Empowerment – West Nile (RICE – WN) - recently organised the first ever cross-border dialogue meeting between officials from both Uganda and DRC with the aim of promoting better information sharing.

Participants included members of the civil society, Petroleum Exploration and Production Department (PEPD), Uganda’s Ministry of Energy, representatives from the border districts of Nebbi, Buliisa, Zombo, and Nwoya.  The DRC was represented by eighteen delegates from a cross-section of organisations including the civil society.

During the dialogue, International Alert underscored the importance of improving understanding between parties and information flow; coalition-building with civil society and government; identification of conflict areas and peacebuilding opportunities; advocacy with government and oil companies; as well as cross border engagements if positive outcomes are to be realised from the oil industry.

According to Andrew Byaruhanga Bahemuka, Oil and Gas Manager, International Alert (Uganda), apart from oil companies adopting conflict-sensitive practices in areas where they operate, “there remains a need to address matters pertaining to security and human rights.”

The Assistant Commissioner in Uganda’s Ministry of Energy, Honey Malinga, observed that the government (Ugandan) has established a national oil and gas policy to govern the oil and gas sub-sector and to ensure proper record keeping, a national petroleum data repository has also been set up. Making references to agreements signed between Uganda and DRC in 1986, which established a joint permanent commission of cooperation, he noted that an addendum to the same agreement in 2008 provides for teams from the two countries “a stretch of up to 4 kilometres into each other’s territory during exploration.”

The dialogue also brought to the fore the fact that citizens, particularly those living in oil exploration communities feel that the government have not involved them in negotiations. Many said that policies are being designed from above and then imposed on them. And in cases where information has been passed on from the oil companies to the communities, it was said that such information is not always tailored to the needs of the people.

Francois Bura Dhengo, who led the DRC delegation advocated for the need to maintain regular cross-border dialogues “to exchange ideas and voice cross-border and oil related concerns”. He said that DRC border communities are concerned about porous border which he argued are likely to facilitate the passage of arms that may foment conflict. He urged the maintenance of good relationships between cross-border communities.

More dialogues are planned for June and July in Hoima (Uganda) and Bunia, respectively.  

In her closing remarks, Sunday Ayikoru, the Arua District LCV Vice Chairperson expressed her gratitude to International Alert and RICE-WN for organising the dialogue which she said “should become a continuous endeavour.”