The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi has urged communities in Teso Sub-region to protect newly announced crude oil deposits, accusing the government of failures in transparency, justice, and resource management.
‘It was confirmed that there is oil here in Teso. Nobody will take your oil when we take power,’ Nandala told campaign rallies on November 21 in Ogom, Kadami and Nyero sub-counties in Kumi District.
In 2021, the government contracted Xcalibar, a Spanish company, to conduct mineral prospecting in Teso, Karamoja and Lamwo.
Their findings are believed to have informed the Ministry of Energy’s announcement of crude oil deposits in Teso.
According to the Uganda Investment Authority, the ministry on November 15, 2024 designated three new oil and gas exploration areas covering 2,244 square miles: the Moroto-Kadam Basin in northeastern Uganda, Lake Kyoga Basin in central Uganda and the Hoima Basin in midwestern Uganda.
UIA added that potential basins span 26 districts expected to be opened for exploration.
Nandala told supporters that Uganda’s biggest challenges were ‘Greed, Injustice and Corruption among others,’ blaming President Museveni for failing to curb graft during his nearly four decades in power.
‘To confirm that they are now stealing daily, they are wasting millions of money advertising a man who has been president for all this time in printing posters, banners and billboards,’ he said ahead of next year’s General Election.
The FDC candidate accused the government of impoverishing communities by ‘destroying’ cotton, once a major cash crop in Teso.
‘Ugandan’s have been made beggars in their own by destroying your cotton which used to make you very proud people. Our cotton is the best and the most expensive in the whole world,’ he said.
He promised to revive ginneries and restore cotton production.
‘We plan to return cotton here and put back our ginneries. This cotton is a cash crop, that means it gives cash. Now that it was killed, now you have no cash. This why you have become beggars,’ Nandala told the crowds.
He also faulted the government for failing to compensate Teso residents for cattle lost during years of conflict, despite court rulings ordering compensation.
‘I want to ask, if justice was in Uganda, why haven’t they respected the court ruling that says you must be compensated for the cows you lost? I am telling you, these people won’t compensate you. If he is serious, why can’t he give you people now,’ he said.
Nandala urged voters to ‘stay away from lies,’ and elect leaders who would ‘come and fight for the rights of the people.’