Greed for oil money among politicians threatens our shared bright future

Our shared future is bright. Uganda has more than 30 years’ capability of industry-scale production of oil in the Albertine Rift Valley. This means that, with good governance, oil money assures us of the availability of resources to invest in core infrastructure development and improve service delivery tremendously. We can actually eradicate poverty, ignorance and disease, and provide jobs and social security for everyone.

But greed for oil money among politicians and corporate fat cats threatens our future as a prosperous oil-producing country. I dare say it is the number one threat to the security and sovereignty of the State. Oil greed, if unpunished, will inhibit our economic growth, disrupt our development plans, and infect our politics with endless conflict and corruption scandals. Some people may be tempted to engage in acts of treason against the State. Civil war may be inevitable.

The bi-partisan consensus against corruption in the oil sector displayed by our representatives during the recent widely publicised special parliamentary session, should be the beginning of a new chapter in our politics. This is the time for truth and accountability.

Regardless of our political affiliations, let us join Parliament to demand that the government and the private sector should endorse strong measures to police and punish corporate fraud in the oil sector. Corruption scandals in a critical sector like oil production, which is run on public-private partnership basis, are bad for business. They chase away “good investors” and attract “bad investors.”

All our oil money, coin by coin, should be jealously guarded and held in trust for the people of Uganda, both present and future generations. All persons placed in positions of leadership and responsibility should, in their oil-related work, be answerable to the people of Uganda, not Tullow, not ENI, and certainly not the arbitrators in London’s tea houses.

We must have faith in our national institutions, especially Parliament and the Judiciary. Those who are privileged to serve as MPs, judges and other public offices during these golden years of the oil boom should be ready to die for God and their country. These institutions are the new frontiers in the war against Uganda’s mismanagement and exploitation.

All citizens, including you the reader, must have the courage and confidence to take lawful measures to expose, combat and eradicate corruption and abuse or misuse of power by those holding political and other public offices. Let us legitimately question each and every action they take or thought they hold in the name of Uganda. Our future as a prosperous oil economy depends critically on trust. Trust in the word of our national leaders, and trust in the word of the people (especially foreigners) with whom we do business.

Yet under 25 years of NRM leadership, there has been an unprecedented erosion of trust in government and foreign corporations. The continued stay of NRM in power, without making bold changes at the top, could therefore keep the economy from reaching its full potential.

Senior NRM leaders must be exemplary. Through their actions, they should demonstrate that their party can be transparent and fair in managing the oil kitty, or else they shall lose the trust of the people, suffer condemnation and criticism, and irreparably damage their legacy. It is a pathetic thing when a country is united in baying for a man’s blood while he is fast approaching his 70th, 80th or 90th birthday. Let us keep oil greed in check. Oil does not rot.

Mr Kimaze is an advocate of the High Court of Uganda.
isaackimaze@yahoo.co.uk