MOFA, embassy officials make strategic visit to oil region

Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) as well as Heads of Mission and technical officials from Uganda Embassies in Dar-Es-Salaam, Paris, Beijing and Abu Dhabi have started a 4-day field visit to the Albertine Graben region.

The trip, organised by Petroleum Association of Uganda (PAU), aims to counter onslaught of misinformation and disinformation about Uganda’s mineral sector. It aims to ensure Uganda’s representatives abroad are be able to make quick and effective responses in setting the record straight.

“By the end of the field visit, we expect to have a highly empowered critical mass of Foreign Service personnel whose understanding of the Petroleum economy will be apparent, as they go out to seek for investment partners and collaboration opportunities in their areas of accreditation,” said Permanent Secretary, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa as the team headed west.

MoFA has set four priority areas of focus for sourcing of investors under Economic and Commercial Diplomacy which include Agro-processing, Tourism, Mineral Development and Science and technology transfer.

MoFA had been working in close partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in building the technical capacity of Uganda’s Foreign Service by equipping the Ambassadors and officers with first-hand knowledge about Uganda’s petroleum industry and related mineral development programmes.

Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa appreciated the MoFA for the initiative of making on-spot visits in the various priority areas. She encouraged the delegation to focus on familiarizing themselves with the international issues that surround the petroleum industry, particularly the economic and social issues in the project affected areas, environmental issues as well as study the procedures, standards and legal provisions.

“Hearing from people on the ground will boost your confidence that Uganda has ticked off all the boxes in the quest for clean energy,” she said.

During the visit, the delegation will visit the UPIK, the Centre of Excellence for Oil and Gas Training and the Kingfisher Development project in Kikuube district to view the drilling activities. The delegation will also visit the Waste Management Facility in Luwero Industries as well as inspect feeder pipeline activities and the Kabalega Industrial Park. Also on the programme, the team will visit the Tilenga Project Industrial area and experience activity at the MSL Agriculture Produce Collection point.