By Norman Miwambo

20^th Feb 2012:

Museveni: Gave thumbs up to oil deal

Inter -Party Cooperation (IPC), has accused and condemned President Yoweri Museveni’s ‘stealthily’ actions that authorised the signing of the oil agreements in defiance of the resolution made by Parliament.  In a statement issued Thursday, February 16, the IPC equated Museveni’s actions to mortgaging the country.

Foreign oil companies warned

The IPC also warned the oil companies Tullow, CNOOC and Total not to ignore the Sovereign people of Uganda in their rush to exploit the resources, and if they do so, they will be doing so at the own risk and peril.  “…Our country will not be encumbered by these patently fraudulent transactions.  We are presently in a struggle to reclaim our country that has been privatized and usurped by a handful of selfish individuals,” the statement further reads.

The genesis of the dispute

The IPC’s statement was a response to President Museveni’s comment that he sanctioned the signing of the oil Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) and ignored the Parliamentary resolutions that necessitate laws and policies to cater for the oil agreements.

In the resolution that was passed in October 2011, the Ugandan Parliament had demanded that the government comes up with enforceable laws and table them in the House within 30 days from the date of the resolution to cater for the oil Production-Sharing Agreements.

However, President Museveni by-passed Parliament and ordered the country’s Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Irene Muloni to go on with Tullow Oil Company to sign the Production-Sharing Agreements on February 3, 2012.  The agreement, now allows Tullow Oil to complete a deal with the Chinese company CNOOC and French Total for commercial oil production.

The resolution expressly stated that a moratorium on executing the oil contracts and for transactions be put on the executive arm of government “…until the necessary laws have been passed by Parliament to put into effect the Oil and gas Policy”.

Parliament had concluded with a specific reference to the then impending transaction between Tullow, Total and CNOOC, that: “Government withholds consent to the transaction between Tullow Oil (U) Ltd and Total and CNOOC, until the necessary laws are put in place”.

The resolution, which was passed by the Parliament, entails among other things, Production Sharing Agreement to be made public but all this was ignored.  In its statement, the IPC, a coalition of all the political parties in the country, accused Mr President Museveni of contempt of Parliament and mortgaging Uganda without considering the rest of the citizens.

“…We condemn Mr. Museveni’s action of stealthily authorizing and
hurriedly signing these agreements in contempt of parliament, and as an extension of his personal scheme of mortgaging Uganda without regard to the common good of the people and the institutions that are constitutionally entitled to protect the sovereignty of the nation,” reads part of the statement which was signed by the current Chairman Mr. Asuman Basalirwa, who doubles as the President of (JEEMA) the Justice Forum.

Museveni not legitimate president

Mr Basalirwa added: “…Mr. Museveni is not the legitimate president of Uganda. His handpicked Electoral Commission declared him winner of a fraudulent and sham election of February 2011.”  This was in reference to last year’s presidential elections, which has never been recognised by the opposition and viewed as a rigged election handed over to Mr. Museveni by his handpicked Electoral Commission headed by Prof. Badru Kiggundu.

“…We in the Inter Party Cooperation, IPC, and other opposition parties that participated in the 2011 presidential election made it categorically clear that we do not recognize Mr. Museveni as the legitimate president of Uganda,” reads the statement.

Uganda not Museveni’s personal property

In reference to President Museveni’s recent comment, which he made when he was presiding over the Tarehe Sita celebrations, the day his guerrilla outfit started the war against Dr. Milton Obote’s elected government, the IPC interpreted it in a way suggesting that Museveni is taking the country as his personal property.

“…The confession by Mr. Museveni should confirm to all Ugandans that he treats Uganda’s natural resources as his personal property and that he has total contempt for Parliament, the House of Representatives,” the statement reads in part.

Whilst presiding over the day’s events on February 6, in Kasese, Mr. Museveni was quoted as boasting that: “…These young parliamentarians were penetrated by some individuals with their own agenda to block signing of the agreements, but I managed to defeat them.”  Some young lawmakers had sought a court injunction stop the signing of the PSA but Mr. Museveni defied them.

According to some media reports, Museveni hurriedly ordered the signing of the agreements to foil a legal move by some MPs to block the signing of the production-sharing agreements with Tullow Oil.  The signing thus paved the way for Tullow’s $2.9bn farm-down with Chinese company CNOOC and Total of France.

The IPC however claims that, “…he [Museveni] ordered the signing of the agreements in utter disregard of a resolution of the Parliament of Uganda passed on the 11^th day of October 2011.”  The IPC also said Museveni and his NRM regime have systematically undermined institutions, made corruption a way of life, and employed diversionary tactics to deflect the people from the real issues that affect their lives.

The IPC also said the struggle to liberate Uganda from these selfish individuals is every one’s urgent responsibility.  We appeal to all Ugandans to rise up and reclaim their country from the illegitimate leadership that has mortgaged their resources.” the IPC said.

IPC leaders also made reference to previous incidents when parliament was ignored.  “…It may be recalled that this is not the first time that Parliament has made resolutions in futility. Previously, Parliament passed a resolution requiring the halting of the privatization of Uganda Commercial Bank. This was ignored with contempt and the bank sold at a great loss to the people of Uganda.” the IPC pointed out.

The opposition outfit also called on the Parliament of Uganda to urgently reclaim its constitutional role and assert its oversight power over the Executive.  “…Failure to do this will result in an impotent and useless institution that the country can do without.” the IPC warned.

A copy of the statement, which this newspaper has obtained, was copied to Conservative Party [CP] President Hon. John Ken Lukyamuzi, FDC President Dr. Kizza Besigye, Social Democratic Party (SDP) President Hon. Mike Mabikke, and Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere, Patron Ssuubi pressure group.

Our efforts to get a reaction from the government were futile by press time.  However, as stated above, the president defended his actions on the grounds that some young parliamentarians were being misled by people with a different agenda to block the oil agreements.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.