The Minister of state for Minerals in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development, Phiona Nyamutoro has said a law to recognize, regulate and register earth scientists is needed like yesterday.
“The need for a legal and operational regime for earth scientists has taken longer than it should but the Earth Scientists Registration Board Bill is needed like yesterday but the Bible tells us there is time for everything. I want to say this is the time for us scientists,” Nyamutoro said.
The minister was on Tuesday speaking at the opening of a three day a national stakeholders’ meeting on the Earth Scientists Registration Board Bill at Fairway Hotel in Kampala.
She said the meeting is a requirement by government those consultations with stakeholders be undertaken, prior to approval of any legislation.
“I would like to encourage participants to open their minds and hearts to new ideas and also share knowledge to finalise this bill for presentation to cabinet.”
The meeting organized by the geological survey department of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development brought together key stakeholders in the earth sciences sector to discuss the proposed bill and its implications.
According to the commissioner in charge of geological survey in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Fred Tugume, the proposed bill will lead to the establishment of a board to oversee the registration and licensing of earth scientists, as part of the broader Mining and Minerals Act of 2022.
He said that the three-day stakeholders’ engagement is meant to have input into the proposed bill, draft a document that will later be presented to cabinet and later parliament for passing into law.
“During the workshop, the proposed bill and areas proposed for regulation will be presented and solicit for more input on the proposed areas to enrich the bill prior to submission to Cabinet and subsequently to Parliament for consideration.”
Isa Rugayizi, a principal geoscientist said the geoscientists include geochemists, geodesists, geologists, geophysicists, mine geologists, oceanographers, oceanologists, petroleum geologists and petrologists among others, noting that the proposed bill will benefit geoscientists, the public and investors.
“There have been a lot of people pretending to be geoscientists yet they are not qualified. They have fleecing Ugandans and investors but with the proposed bill, there will be a board to oversee registration and licensing of geoscientists that anyone wants they service, they can contact them,” Rugayizi said.
“Previously, local geoscientists have been complaining about being left out in terms of local content as many of those used are experts but this bill will address this as Ugandans will now be recognized. The proposed bill will avail a pool of geoscientists that investors can use.”
