“The East African Crude Oil Pipeline is a Good Deal for Uganda” – Mpuuga

 

The Leader of Opposition (LOP) in Parliament Hon. Mathias Mpuuga has expressed his support towards the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) stretching from the Albertine region to the Tanzanian coastal port of Tanga.

While in an interview with a local news outlets, the Nyendo-Mukungwe Constituency Member of Parliament said he has no problem with the construction of Uganda’s Oil pipeline as long as human rights are observed and ensuring Environmental sustainability.

“The pipeline has no problem because there is no other way of getting the oil other than using the pipeline. But Ugandans should enjoy their natural resources as well as being sensitive to the environment,” Mpuuga said.

He also slammed the European Union (EU) Parliament for interfering in the domestic affairs of other sovereign states especially the least developed countries including Uganda. He says developing countries also have got the right to develop their natural resources for the wellbeing of their natives.

“Its common sense that if these issues are obtaining, they should be sorted other than halting the construction of the pipeline,” Mpuuga said.

On September 15^th the EU Parliament passed a resolution calling upon all the development partners to halt the Construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline at least for a period of one year. They raised issues concerning human rights as well as environmental concerns that the oil pipeline poses.

The resolution was also condemned by the majority of Ugandans including the Members of Parliament lead by the Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa.