The Civil Society Private Sector Forum to monitor oil and gas revenues

27^th-09-2013

 By  Nankwanga Eunice Kasirye-

The Civil Society Private Sector Forum, CSPSF, is a round-table for the private and civil society to spur progressive government positions on key pertinent issues. The forum is meant to close the diversionary positions that often emerge between the civil society, private sector and government on social and economic issues. Now that all concerned is directed onto the extractive industry, the forum plans to ensure policies on national content are well formulated and revenues from the extractive resources are well utilized.

 At the time when Uganda is progressing to development stage of the extractive industry especially the oil and gas, there is  need to find a common ground at policy level between government, civil society and the private sector. The Civil Society Private Sector Forum CSPSF is developed to identify collective and all embracing solutions to possible challenges that could crop up especially during the entire life span of the oil and gas resource.

 Budget monitoring and evaluation are some of the key obligations expected to be accomplished through the amiable coordination of the civil society, the private sector and government. The Civil Society Private Sector Forum CSPSF wants to ensure that revenues from oil and gas are well utilized to finance other sectors that will sustain the economy after the resources life span. The Forum Chairperson Dr Maggie Kigozi says that   through round table forums, the funds accrued from the oil, gas and minerals will be well coordinated with in the national budget where close monitoring and evaluations will be done to that effect.

The  need for Ugandans to fully gain from the oil ,gas and minerals  is critical , the forum will help in advocating for  conducive  factors that spur backward  and forward linkages  for the local entrepreneurs. The Uganda investment Authority is mandated to create a cottage industry park close to the exploitation areas for Ugandans to establish complementary investments. It is also imperative that diversionary sector debaters stay away from the sectors’ critical activity information, otherwise the public seem carried back as foreigners take the juiciest opportunities in the sector.

The Civil Society Private Sector Forum hinges on the desire to develop Uganda socially and economically through a coordination of the private sector, the civil society and the government. The forum activities will minimize mediocrity public submissions on key national subjects through comprehensive research and consultations.

 Key research work will be done on key major frontiers that include national budget reviews and monitoring, trade and investment, taxation and policy reviews, good governance, education and skills development as well as healthcare.