The Africa, Caribbean, Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Maputo yesterday voted to allow Uganda to proceed with developing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project (EACOP).
The ACP-EU Assembly, which brings together an equal number of elected MPs from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states and Members of the European Parliament amended one of its clauses, the “Operative Clause 5” on the Global Challenges of Climate Change, Cooperation for Adaptation and Migration.
The amendment was tabled on the floor by the Tanzanian Deputy Speaker of Parliament Musa Azzan Zungu and Edmund Hinkson of Barbados.
Ugandan MP delegates included Hon Cecilia Ogwal, Hon Thomas Tayebwa, Uganda’s Parliament Deputy Speaker, Hon Theodore Ssekikubo among others.
“Big win for EACOP as the African, Carribean, Pacific-European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Maputo adopts an amendment that allows us to explore our oil and gas industry. We committed to do this in a responsible & sustainable way but also invest more in renewables”, tweeted Hon Thomas Tayebwa.
The ACP-EU resolution now rubbishes the September European Parliament resolution that claimed there were ‘grave’ human rights violations, environmental issues and lack of compensation to the people affected in Uganda and Tanzania.
Tayebwa said that developing countries must be supported to exploit and develop their renewable energy resources as long as they are carried out in a responsible manner.
