Uganda’s
oil sector is a buzz with activity. Over 2bn barrels already confirmed and
further exploration in high gear. Even more exciting is the anticipated
production phase that will see over $10bn worth of investments injected into
the sector soon.
And perhaps a sign of the oil sector’s growing clout, the
Petroleum Exploration and Production Department (PEPD) in Entebbe is one of the only two government
departments to get a new modern office building this year, the other being the
President’s office.
A Ugandan Oil sample exhibited by Tullow officers.
Unlike other sectors, oil brings with it high expectations
especially regarding employment and the expected increase in government revenue
makes even the least optimistic of a Ugandan excited.
Asked what government policy is regarding gender
equitability towards employment in the oil sector, Mr Mubarak Munaya, the
Principal Gender Officer in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development
reveals that such sector-particular policy is yet to be put in place and the
process is just being initiated.
“We have been at exploration stage and the oil is just a
recent discovery,” he says, noting that now is the exact entry-point for policy
makers, program implementers and capacity developers at the Ministry.
“It is like building a house. You can’t be brick-laying and
then start sweeping,” He relates.
“Check on us in six months,” he jokes before revealing that
the Gender, Labour and Social Development Ministry is in close contact with the
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development regarding policy formulation for the
sector which will start soon.
But if Mr. Munaya has his eyes on the policy, then his
counterparts at Energy and Mineral development have other thoughts. Mr. Bukenya
K. Matovu, the Senior Assistant Secretary in the latter says there will be no
such policy because govt’s priority is to recruit competent personnel
regardless of their gender.
“A sector this nascent can not afford to get into such
politics,” declares Mr. Bukenya, noting that Oil and Gas is a very technical
field and therefore can not compromise on skills and competence. “We will not
discriminate against women but neither can we push for incompetent or incapable
people,” adds Bukenya.
He notes that just operating a drilling rig needs internationally
certified personnel and Uganda
which has none remains with no choice but to out-source that kind of work.
Expected to employ between 10,000-20,000 people, he says
that the oil sector is a bee- hive of activity that people should not limit it
to just two products of oil and gas. “The establishment of a refinery opens up
a lot of related industries and all people are encouraged to start companies
irrespective of whether they are women or men,” he says.
He says plastics, bio-chemicals, industrial chemicals,
electric generation, and synthetic industries are some of the industries that
will be created as a result of the refinery. There are also opportunities to be
service providers to these oil companies. “So, women should not sit and expect
to be handed a share of the action on a silver platter. Let them compete for
deals because govt won’t be handing out businesses since it does not control
the private sector,” he notes.
He says the other angle is that the private sector by its
nature seeks to minimize risk, loss and maximize profit. There is no way government
will prevail over them to ensure gender equitability because in the oil sector,
you either know something or you don’t.
“Women should form credible companies otherwise government will
not suppress skills because this is a capital intensive, hi-tech,
profit-oriented and private sector dominated affair,” he assures.
Generally though, Mr. Bukenya says the oil industry world
over has reservations on women because it’s labour intensive and takes into
account natural factors to do with women.
“All in all, business is not a charity and women must
demonstrate competence in this highly competitive world. It’s the only way and we
shall not stop them,” declares Bukenya.
But Hon. Florence Ibi Ekwau, the Shadow Minister for Gender,
Labour and Social Development expresses displeasure at how government drags its
feet when it comes to policy regarding gender and women affairs.
“Gender has a fully-fledged department, what have they been
doing since the discovery of oil in 2007?” she questions. “Women ought to be
involved at all stages but government always remembers us only during election
campaigns,” she says.
“It is disappointing to see that women lead those three line
ministries yet none of them is defending the interests of women in the
lucrative oil sector,” she notes referring to Hon. Syda Bumba, Hon. Irene
Muloni and Hon. Maria Kiwanuka who lead the ministries of Gender Labour and
Social Development, Energy and Minieral Development as well as the Finance
Ministry respectively.
“We should not be left to “prostitution” and cleaning in
this lucrative sector by being given smaller things while kept in the dark when
it comes to bigger things,” says Hon Ekwau noting that women are good managers
and are good candidates to head the planned Petroleum Commission and the
Petroleum Authority.
“Promoting one woman translates into elevation of many
families,” she notes.
“How many women are apart of the undergoing training at
Kigumba Petroleum Training Institute?” wonders Hon. Ekwau noting that since no
particular percentage was allocated to women, the oil boom will turn out to be
another male-dominated affair again.
“I am going to pursue the matter of Kigumba and ensure women
don’t end up with peanuts,” she vows.
But although previous reports show that training is underway
at the Kigumba Petroleum Training Institute, officials at the Ministry of
Education insist the training is yet to commence and therefore the question of
numbers should not arise.
“Nothing is going on yet but we are working to get this
started,” says Mr James Mugwerwa, the Acting Assistant Commissioner for
Technical, Vocational Education and Training at the Ministry of education and
Sports leaving one to wonder what training strategy government has in place.
Peter Christopher Werikhe, the Secretary General of the
National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) urges caution though. “There is
already good will on the side of government to promote women,” he says, adding
that nothing can stop that.
“Women are everywhere now and what they should instead seek
to enhance and strengthen is the unionization of labour in the oil sector,” he
advices.
“Unionization ensures equitability and fairness for all,”
says Werikhe adding that NOTU’s only worry is the entry of the Chinese into the
sector because they have a history of not tolerating unionization and gender
equality issues in their country.
“Govt should be tough on the Chinese to ensure they respect
both gender and union laws of this country,” he says.
The two oil companies leading the concession race, Total
E& P and CNOC decline to comment on issues regarding their gender policy
because technically, they are not yet operating in Uganda.
However, a source at the former who asked not to be revealed
because they are not authorized to speak to the press says the company has
quite an impressive number of women in its hierarchy. “One of our lead
Geological Engineers is a woman who used to work with the Ministry of Energy
and Mineral Development,” the source says adding that a number of other women
occupy senior offices including the legal office.
Mr Jimmy Kiberu, the communications officer at Tullow Oil
& Gas which is the lead exploration company operating in Uganda says while
they emphasize skills and competence, Tullow Oil & Gas is an equal
opportunity employer. “We do not discriminate against anyone on the basis of
gender,” he notes.
For many an average Ugandan, the oil sector presents a vital
opportunity for transformation of the country. The sector holds the hopes of
many young Ugandans who yearn for an era of abundance and accelerated
development.
Ankunda Pearl, a 22 year old student of Business Studies at
Makerere University Business School says she expects to get a well paying job
with an oil company after graduation which will enable her take care of her mum
and siblings.
Mukisa Farahan, 34 and a motorbike transporter based in Kampala says he hopes
that this will lift people out of poverty but he expresses fear about the rate
of corruption in the public sector. “The oil money might never reach us,” he
says.
Charity Komujuni, 28 and an administrative Secretary also
based in Kampala
says those who will benefit are already doing so. “The rest of us are blindly
cheering on,” she notes, also expressing reservations over corruption.
Doreen Ngonzi, a 26 year old Nursing Assistant at Masindi
regional hospital in Masindi says she hopes to see better health facilities in
the region and improved working conditions as an impact of the oil.
But at the backdrop of this are concerns over government’s
failure to set a minimum wage hence leaving room for possible exploitation of
workers by employers in the oil sector.
Meanwhile, excitement continues to grow over Uganda’s oil
fortunes as production is expected to start in less than a year. Government
seems to have adopted a liberal approach on the sector. And as parliament
pushes government to urgently table laws to govern the oil sector, women can
only hope that they will ensure equitability for all.
