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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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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
