Buganda Kingdom has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd to construct a modern state of the art sports complex in Masaka City.
During the same function, both entities also signed an MOU collaborate in environmental conservation through planting of trees under the Ekibira Kya Kabaka, loosely translated as Kabaka’s forest.
Speaking following the signing of the MOU, the Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga hailed government through the EACOP for the initiative that he said will benefit the people of Buganda and Uganda at large.
“Natural resources are comparable to talents that if you are endowed with one and you don’t exploit them, they are as good as wasted and don’t play the role for you. Countries grow because they put to use the resources they are endowed with. They grow because they exploit them. We have oil underground, we need to take it out, process it and get revenue to support the social and economic programs of the country,”Mayiga said.
He said with natural resources, government must take care of the environment.
“The environment like the flora and fauna and water is key in the context of the African continent. We should be mindful of supporting the core economic activities with revenue from minerals . Therefore, the pursuit of profits without due regard to the social conditions of the people where money is being generated creates a class of capitalists without souls. We don’t want that to happen here,” Mayiga said, hailing EACOP for the initiative.
“When EACOP supports the environment, sports or agriculture, we all share, almost directly in the proceeds from these economic activities. It makes EACOP a company, with managers who are humane with souls.”
Mayiga said Buganda will continue supporting EACOP as long as its managers have souls.
The Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa said the initiative is part of the corporate social responsibility by government to its people.
“The projects that EACOP is to support will help engage and benefit youths directly but also the environment. As a country we are grappling with environmental issues and the projects are spot on,” Nankabirwa said, describing the MOUs as the first step in collaboration with Buganda.
The EACOP Managing Director, Guillaume Dulout said the MOUs reflect their shared values and vision.
“The MOUs represent our commitment to advancing environmental conservation and community development, two areas that are deeply important for the future of Uganda and communities along the pipeline route” Dulout said.
“These initiatives are at the heart of our socio-economic investment initiatives which guide us to make deliberate, impactful interventions that uplift communities along the pipeline route.”
The Second Deputy Premier (Katikkiro) and Minister for Finance, Investments, Planning and Economic Development in the Buganda Kingdom, Robert Wagwa Nsibirwa hailed EACOP for the initiative that will have a lasting impact.
“We want to have an outcome on how the subjects have been transformed socially and economically.We are delighted to be working on a program to create impact among people of Buganda and Uganda at large These are legacy projects that will outlive all actors today and it is where the impact comes from. They will be used , enjoyed by generations. They will bring very good impacts and will outlive all of us and it is where transformation comes through,” Nsibirwa said.
The Buganda Minister of gender, water and environment Hajjati Mariam Nkalubo Mayanja said the tree planting project will play a great role in environmental conservation.
“This project is a big step towards protecting our biodiversity and building adoption climate change. We don’t want to just plant trees but grow them. We will create awareness to communities and educate about benefits of growing trees,” she said.
Robert Sserwanga, the Minister of Youth, Sports and the Arts in Buganda Kingdom said sports is one of the aspects that Kabaka Mutebi puts much emphasis on.
He noted that Buganda has a plan to construct sports facilities in each of the 18 counties.
“In a period of 12 months between January to December, we play about 650 games which give athletes a platform to display their talents and our sports disciplines register over 9000 players who register .The lack of sports facilities in Uganda and Buganda in particular cant be underscored. Therefore, having EACOP to partner with us for sports complex in Buddu is a big milestone,” Sserwanga said.
He said Buganda has already set aside 10 acres for the construction of the modern sports complex in Masaka
