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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni promised “tufunirawaa?” which in direct translationmeans
Ugandans that the funds gotten from the oil indus- where dowe benefit from?
try would be not only beneficial to improve on other
sectors like energy and infrastructure but has since As 2020 draws ever near, one can only hope
kept on reiterating this message. But like the adage, that the oil pipeline will not end up as the goose
the devil is often hidden in the details, most Ugan- which despite laying golden eggs was cut up
dans are wondering how much these funds will be only to reveal nothing inside. Unlike titular char-
divided among the big players? Since we do not have acter Pip in English author Charles Dicken’s Great
the capability to extract the oil, then companies were Expectations, we can only hope that the oil pipe-
obviously brought in to help facilitate this process. line will bring good tidings for the nation at large.
But then Government must get a portion of this cake.
And how much of this will actually translate into ser-
vice delivery for rural Ugandans? It is this that we are
interested in. How will the oil ensure that mother s
do not die during child birth again?
Big questions require big answers. Answers
which seem unanswered. What proof of agreements
were signed and where are they? So far, Government
appears to have blown hot air for Ugandans. Fear is
rife that these funds will dive into Government cof-
fers and not see the light of day. With corruption
scandals rocking every other institution daily, will By Denise Paula Nazzinda
we really see this oil money? As is said in Luganda,