Government Accused Of Frustrating Bill On Mining

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in Uganda news February 11, 2022

The executive committee has been accused of delaying the Mining and Minerals Resources Bill 2021. The accusations have come from the Civil Society Organizations and Legislators on Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee.

Many consider the bill a critical legal instrument in governing the country’s mining and mineral exploitation industry.

The deadline for the parliamentary committee on Environment and Natural Resources to table the bill happened to be on February 10, 2022.

This, however, did not happen and now accusations and counter-accusations are going back and forth.

Speaking during a consultative meeting with the civil society officials on the bill, legislators blamed the government for dilly-dallying.

MPs said the government took long to realize the importance of the bill. When they did, they wanted to rush it through parliament.

“It’s not true that the bill was delayed in our committee but the government should be blamed. They are just putting us under undue pressure yet there is no deadline to meet,” said Aisha Kabanda, the woman MP for Butambala.

As for Sheema Municipality MP, Dickson Kateshumbwa, he sounded optimistic that they will pass the bill into law.

“Our main issue is that we have to make sure that we consult the civil society organization for the amendments they want made in the bill. And present them to the speaker of parliament and hopefully we are going to do it,” Kateshumbwa said.

Civil society organizations said examining the bill after realizing the Final Investment Decision will provide a proper legal basis for the country’s mining sector.

“We recommend that the local government should also have a role in licensing the mining companies,” said James Mubiru, a member of civil society organizations on oil and gas.

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