NRM MPs accuse Museveni of influencing outcome of oil Bill

The five NRM legislators, who voted against their party position on the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Bill, 2012, said they have no regrets and have instead accused President Museveni of creating confusion in the oil sector.

Mr Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga), Xavier Kyooma (Ibanda North), Mr Raphael Magyezi (Igara West), Mr Vincent Kyamadidi (Rwampara) and Ms Monica Amoding (Youth, Female) were among the 39 MPs who voted against the stand to authorise the minister for petroleum, to grant and revoke licences, negotiate and endorse petroleum agreements. The NRM MPs joined the opposition in accusing President Museveni of opening floodgates of corruption to the sector.

“I decided to vote against my party because I was fully aware that the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Bill, 2012 was not about NRM or Opposition, it was about how to manage the oil sector efficiently, for the benefit of the present and future generations,” Mr Magyezi said.

The MPs, speaking to the Daily Monitor, said they voted with their conscience and that they have no apologies to make to anybody, not even to President Museveni, whom they accused of intimidating members.

“President Museveni put a lot of pressure on members. He was calling members to vote against their conscience and intimidating them at the same time,” Mr Ssekikubo said.
“This is why more than half of Parliament decided to run away on such a critical matter of national importance. I regret that we couldn’t clip the minister’s powers but we moved several amendments on the environment, institutional frame work and the Oil sector will never be the same again,” he added.

There was no abstention although 198 MPs, majority from the ruling party, were conspicuously absent. The Friday voting in the House was by roll call. It is not yet clear whether the NRM MPs would be subjected to disciplinary action for voting against the party position, but the lawmakers insist they are not representing NRM in Parliament.

Mr Magyezi said before he went to vote, he met a group of 400 people from his constituency and only one person supported the government position. “…I am representing the people of Igara West and their position on the proposed oil law was that we should give powers to the Petroleum Authority and the minister focuses on policy matters.”

Clause 9 of the Bill gives the Energy minister exclusive authority to negotiate, grant and revoke exploration and production licences, to issue policy and regulations, and to approve field development plans.

Initially, Parliament had given these powers to the Petroleum Authority but the President rejected the decision and asked Energy Minister, Ms Irene Muloni, to repeal this House resolution.

Several NRM caucus meetings and Cabinet consultations were held to convince members to reverse their decision. But because the NRM controls about 270 MPs in the House of 375 members, securing a U-turn was not going to be difficult. In the end, when the Deputy Speaker, Mr Jacob Oulanyah, put the matter to vote, the NRM party defeated the opposition in the House.

MP Ssekikubo said passing the Oil Bill with vast powers to the minister means that there will be undue concentration of executive power and a greater executive burden than any individual could manage.

Parliament compromised
He added that by giving unlimited powers to the minister, Parliament had “officially sanctioned kickbacks and corruption” in the sector. By proposing that the powers be given to the Petroleum Authority, Mr Kyooma said they wanted to protect oil from becoming a curse for Uganda.
“We wanted to ensure transparency and accountability in the oil sector because that’s what the people we represent wanted,” he said.

Ms Muloni scoffed at claims that the minister’s involvement in the oil sector might bring a curse to Uganda. She said there are checks and balances to ensure that the country’s oil revenue is managed in a transparent and accountable manner for the benefit of the whole country.

“The minister does not operate in isolation; Cabinet will be consulted, the Petroleum Authority will advise on licenses and the technical people will be involved including other departments of government and Parliament,” Ms Muloni said.

She added: “Oil belongs to all of us and we want to use this resource in a transparent manner to transform the country and help our people live a better life.” Once the President assents to the Bill, it will become law.