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Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) is a dynamic public policy and advocacy registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) that is dedicated to influencing energy policies to benefit the poor and vulnerable. Through its vision, AFIEGO’s seeks to realise a society that equitably uses energy resources for socio-economic development.

The organisation is based in Kampala, operates field offices in the Albertine region districts of Hoima and Kasese and works in Uganda in addition to the Great Lakes regions to realise its vision.

JOBS AVAILABLE

• ASSISTANT COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (1 Position)
• RESOURCE MOBILISATION OFFICER ( 1 Position)

In this Issue, you will read, understand and appreciate the local content law, AFIEGO’s  people Appealing to government of Uganda to emulate Tanazania and make PSAs public and most importantly, you will be informed about the refinery people’s case transfer from the high court of  Uganda Kampala to the high court of Uganda Masindi.AFIEGO NEWSLETTER MARCH 2015

About AFIEGO

Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) is a public policy research and advocacy NGO dedicated to influencing energy policies to benefit the poor and vulnerable. Based in Kampala- Uganda, the organization was born out of the need to contribute to efforts to turn Africa’s energy potential into reality; and to ensure that the common man and woman benefits from this energy boom. Through lobbying, research and community education, AFIEGO works with communities and leaders to ensure that energy resources are utilized in a way that promotes equitable development, environmental conservation and respect for human rights.

Our  Vision

A society that equitably uses energy resources for socio-economic development.

Our Mission

To promote energy policies that benefit the poor and vulnerable communities.

Our Objectives

To empower citizens, particularly the poor and vulnerable, to participate in the making of energy policies at all levels.
To contribute to the pool of knowledge on energy in Africa, through research and documentation.
To empower citizens to demand for transparency and accountability in the management and utilisation of energy resources.
To promote gender equity in the utilisation of energy resources.
To provide free energy-related legal services and paralegal training to vulnerable and poor communities.

Core values

AFIEGO’s core values guide the organisation’s behavior, inform its decision making processes and operational activities, and shape the strategies that it pursues in the face of challenges and opportunities. AFIEGO’s core values are:

• Professionalism

AFIEGO staff as well as management are guided by the highest standards of international best practices. The organisation ensures impartiality and a fair balance of competing interests, upholding ethical approaches to business in public and in private. The organisation seeks at all times to promote the common good in society.

• Participation

At all times, AFIEGO seeks to involve local communities, policy makers and stakeholders in its activities. This is done through engagement of participatory approaches to decision making and action-taking at all levels in the organisation and within our networks and partnerships. AFIEGO’s promotion of participation is designed to minimise the power inequalities in human relations that create and sustain poverty and injustices through suppression of alternative voices.

• Transparency

AFIEGO ensures that it undertakes all its work with utmost openness and that the public knows how and why they carry out their activities in a particular manner. The organisation ensures information sharing with stakeholders, government and key players in the energy sector.

• Accountability

AFIEGO and all persons acting in its name and on the organisation’s behalf act in an open and responsible manner. The organisation is desirous of manifesting institutionalised accountable behaviour, contributing to the setting of best standards in corporate responsibility in the non-profit sector. It opens itself up to public scrutiny and takes responsibility for acts of omission and commission. AFIEGO is accountable for funds and resources in its possession to stakeholders and endeavours to uphold both general and vertical accountability

• Non-partisanship

In recognition of the centrality of politics to the development process, AFIEGO’s research and advocacy agenda addresses central political issues of governance, accountable leadership, political transparency and fighting corruption in a non-partisan manner. This is done in such a way that AFIEGO does not align itself to any political party or ideals.

Dickens Kamugisha
Dickens Kamugisha is the current Chief Executive Officer of Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO). He is also an advocate of the High Court of Uganda and a member of Uganda Law Society and East African Law Society. Dickens has undertaken many professional trainings including Access to Biological Resources, Benefit Sharing and Material Transfer Agreement (ABS), International Trade Policy, Bio-safety Mechanisms-Intellectual Property Law and Health in Africa, NGO Leaders Capacity Building Strategy and others. He has written widely on oil and electricity governance. Dickens holds a master of laws Degree majoring in Energy Governance from Makerere University, Kampala-Uganda.
Byaruhanga Robert

Patience Atukunda
Patience is currently working as a Finance Officer with AFIEGO. She possesses a Certified Public Accountants certificate of Uganda (CPA) from the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU). She also possesses Kenya Accounting Technician Certificate (KATC) from Kenya Accounting and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB).

Before joining AFIEGO, she worked with Pearl Development Group as an Administrator/Accounts assistant and JIMARK-GD & Associates, an accounting consultancy firm that provides accounting consultancy services to different organizations/companies. During her time with J-mark-GD & Associates she also worked closely with 2007 Final Accounts for Excel Insurance Company and My Office Company Limited.

Doris Atwijukire
WRITTEN BY ADMINISTRATOR | 25 APRIL 2012
Doris is currently a programmes Assistant at AFIEGO. She holds a bachelor degree in procurement and logistics management from Kyambogo University and a postgraduate certificate in Project Planning and Management from Makerere University. She underwent training in project proposal and report writing organised by the British Council. Doris has written more than ten various educative and informative articles on the electricity and oil sector in Uganda which have been published in the leading media houses in Uganda. Email datwijukire@afiego.org or doratwijukye@yahoo.com or Tel.0715753935
Diana Taremwa
WRITTEN BY ADMINISTRATOR | 11 APRIL 2012
Diana Taremwa is currently a programme assistant for renewable energy and climate change programme at AFIEGO. She holds a Bachelors degree in Masscommunication and certificate in Public speaking from Makerere University. She has been exposed to different working environments. She has been a public relationsintern with Uganda Broadcasting Corporation and at Development Law Associates. She brings a wealth of knowledge in communications to AFIEGO. She believesadoption of renewable energy technologies will fill the energy gap in Uganda.

Businge Michael
WRITTEN BY ADMINISTRATOR | 11 APRIL 2013

Busiinge Michael is currently the Field Programme Assistant based in our Hoima Branch Office. Michael holds a bachelors degree in Environmental Science, Technology and Management from Kyambongo University. Before joining AFIEGO in 2012, he worked as a Field Officer with SCC-Vi Agro forestry project Eastern Africa, Research Assistant at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), A Field Assistant at scripture Union of Uganda and a Research Assistant with ECOTRUST-Uganda. He brings that experience and skills to AFIEGO to assist our Bunyoro Field Coordinator in managing our oil governance projects in the Albertine Graben.

1. Board:

• Board Chairperson
• Board Treasurer
• Board Secretary 
• Two Board members 
• The CEO who is an ex-official member and secretary.

2. Secretariat:

• Chief Executive Officer[CEO]
• Head of Finance and Administration
• Director of Programmes and Advocacy
• Programme Officers
• Programme Assistants

PUBLISH WHAT YOU PAY-UGANDA (PWYP-U)
PWYP is a civil society global initiative that was founded in 2002 to help citizens of resource rich countries hold their governments accountable for the management of resources from oil, gas and mining industries.The campaign comprises of over 300 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) across the world including: Global Witness, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), OXFAM, Save the Children UK, Transparency International UK and Revenue Watch Institute. Over 30 national coalitions have been formed across the world in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Gabon, USA and many others. On October 8, 2008, Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) coordinated the official launch of PWYP – Uganda.

Currently, PWYP-U is working with its members to ensure that Uganda’s legal, policy and institutional mechanisms for extractive resources and particularly oil governance are sufficiently put in place to ensure revenue transparency and accountability in Uganda during production of the above resources. PWYP-U is also aimed at training and empowering its members with knowledge and expertise in order to demand for transparency and accountability in and management of extractive resources and revenues that will be generated in future.

Our activities are also aimed at promoting effective implementation of the 2008 Oil and Gas policy-Uganda through radio talk shows, TV shows, opinion articles in the national press. In particular, all member NGOs of PWYP-U are working hard to persuade the minister of energy to ensure the implementation of Objective VI of the policy which states that the Ugandan government will participate in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Since its launch, the coalition has been involved in a number of activities. In February 2009, PWYP-Uganda organised a training workshop for coalition members and other selected groups to build the capacity of the coalition. Since then the following key activities have taken place:

• Participation in a number of Environmental Impact Assessment public hearings on oil in Uganda;
• Worked with the National Democratic Institute-Washington to organise a visit by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MPs to Uganda to assess the level of oil governance in Uganda oil industry;
• Organised training on oil governance and transparency for University Students leaders at Makerere University Kampala;
• Sent an MP to attend the fourth EITI Global conference in Doha-Qatar;
• Published a brochure and info-sheet to popularise EITI in Uganda.
• Held a workshop on contract transparency.
• Compelled, through legal channels and public campaigning, the government of Uganda to release the Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) as part of efforts to ensure transparency in Uganda’s oil industry;
• Launched a communication strategy to communicate EITI in Uganda;
• Mobilised the public to effectively participate in the consultations on new petroleum law in Uganda and;
• Organised trainings and lectures by Dr. Keith Myers from Richmond Energy Partners ltd – UK on Oil and Development Options for Uganda and Jacqueline Weaver from Houston University – USA on Oil and the Legal Regime for African Oil Producing Countries.

In July 2010, PWYP-Uganda – Bunyoro chapter was launched, where the chapter is to work hand in hand with the main coalition to promote transparency and accountability in the Oil sector in their communities. Many CSO’s, CBO’s, Media and Religious leaders from all the districts in the region became members meaning that in each district, we have a member of the chapter.

For more information contact:
Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO)
Plot 1288, Space centre building, Buwate – Kiira Town Council
Email: afiego@afiego.org

In its Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative, the UN is seeking to achieve universal access to affordable clean energy by 2030. As Uganda moves to attain middle income status by 2020, emphasis has, among others, been put on the energy sector and rightly so as as the energy sector greatly contributes to all productive and social sectors of the economy.

The overall objective of the Electricity Democracy programme is to promote adequate, accessible, reliable, clean and sustainable electricity services that are affordable to citizens for improved livelihoods and national development. With achievement of this objective, Uganda will be able to meet her own energy goals and those of the UN.

To achieve the programme objective, AFIEGO largely creates public awareness on the rights to electricity. People’s understanding and involvement in electricity decision-making processes is critical to realising good governance in the electricity sector. There is still currently widespread exclusion of people’s involvement in the electricity sector; exclusion leads to inadequate or no public participation in management of electricity services in Uganda and this perhaps explains the ever increasing electricity tariffs in the country.

AFIEGO also conducts research and analyses of government strategies to develop the sector and their socio-economic impact on electricity consumers, thereafter monitoring progress of these strategies and performing an advisory role. 

AFIEGO also plays a watch dog role over the electricity sector, working to push for more pro-poor clean energy policies.

Focus is put on gender and energy, assessment of the progress of implementation of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) and implementation of government energy programmes such as the  Rural Electrification programme and hydro-power projects among others. AFIEGO also engages in public interest litigation and influencing of energy policies to benefit Ugandans among others.

Uganda has earmarked oil and gas and other mineral resources as some of the opportunities available to transform the country to middle income status by 2020. Oil and gas and mineral resources indeed have the potential to take an economy from a peasant to a prosperous one. Paradoxically, the same resources also have the potential to plunge a country into unrest.

When not used in a transparent and accountable manner, natural resources such as oil and gas have the potential to aggravate existing inequalities and exacerbate vulnerabilities among the host communities in form of loss of livelihoods, conflicts, displacements, and loss of biodiversity.

The main objective of this programme is to influence extractives policies so that they work for citizens and promote national and regional development.

AFIEGO seeks to contribute to efforts to realise a transparent, inclusive, prosperous and just Uganda “whose development is people-driven” especially by the poor and vulnerable as envisioned by Uganda’s National Development Plan II, Vision 2040, the Africa Mining Vision, African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Under this programme, AFIEGO empowers citizens to influence extractive policies to work for them and promote national development .

AFIEGO also works for access to information, public participation, access to justice, gender equality and environmental conservation in addition to undertaking research and advocacy to realise the objective of this programme.

Focus is also put on youth and oil governance, gender and extractives, oil and biodiversity, land governance, public interest litigation and transboundary natural resource governance among others.

14TH MAY 2013

The Chairman L C 5,

Hoima District, Local Government,

Dear Mr. George T. Bagonza,

           Re: A Petition by the Communities Affected by the Proposed Oil Refinery Project in Kabaale, Buseruka-Hoima District

1. Dear Chairman, we wish to thank you for giving us an opportunity to meet and present our petition to you. We also thank you for the great leadership you have continued to provide to our district. We recognize that under your able leadership, the government through the ministry of energy has progressed well with the development of oil and other natural resources. We are happy that you have worked with the central government to bring the oil refinery to our district and specifically, our parish of Kabaale.

2. The proposed oil refinery: WE APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT the ongoing government’s efforts to build an oil refinery in our parish of Kabaale, Buseruka sub county, Hoima district. The refinery has the potential to add value on the country’s crude oil to generate more revenues which, if well utilized, will enable the government to provide the much needed social and economic services such as employment, quality health and education, clean water, good roads and many other amenities to improve the living standards of Ugandans.

3. However, it should be noted that the development of the proposed oil refinery has seen all our land get captured in the demarcated 29sq km of land. This is our only land on which we have lived for decades with our families, gardens, cows, goats, sheep and others. It is our only survival and therefore our life. If it is taken away from us without adequate compensation and agreeable resettlement, we shall die.

4. So, while we support the refinery project, we are concerned about the absence of clear set compensation rates and regulations to guide the compensation and resettlement regarding the people affected by the proposed refinery. We are also concerned with the manner in which the project developers are taking advantage of the legal vacuum to exploit us.

5. The main objective of this petition is to present to you the injustices we are facing as a result of the district’s failure to consult us and put up to date compensation rates in place as provided for in section 59(1) (e) and (f).

6. THIS PETITION is a product of various meetings and hearings that were conducted in all the 13 villages of Kabaale where we discussed the challenges created by the proposed oil refinery.

Specifically, we bring the following concerns to your attention:

7. Lack of up to date compensation rates: Hoima district through the District Land Board is required under the Land Act Cap 227 section 59 (1) (e) to compile and maintain a list of rates of compensation payable in respect of crops, buildings of nonpermanent nature and any other thing that may be prescribed, and (f) review every year the list of rates of compensation but since commencement of the refinery process we have never seen any consultations on the rates or the list of rates. Under sub section 6 of section 59 above, “each district council shall have a district land office comprising among other officers; a district land officer, a valuer and surveyor” However, we are concerned that all these offices have not come to our rescue especially to guide us on our property rights. Instead, we are told to wait endlessly for the decision of the Chief Government Valuer who has no idea about the values of our property.

The above district’s failure has contributed to the following problems:

8. Violation of the our Constitution right to adequate and timely compensation: Article 26 of the Constitution of Uganda provides that: (1) Every person has a right to own property, and (2) No person shall be compulsorily deprived of property or any interest in or right over property of any description except where the following conditions are satisfied (a) the taking of possession or acquisition is necessary for public use, (b) the compulsory taking of possession or acquisition of property is made under a law which makes provision for prompt payment of fair and adequate compensation, prior to the taking of possession or acquisition of the property, and a right of access to a court of law by any person who has an interest or right over the property. Unfortunately, a decade has passed a no law is in place to ensure that affected people get prompt payment of fair and adequate compensation. As a result, we live at the discretion mercy of the developers. This is injustice, degrading and inhumane. This constitutional provision has been fundamentally abused by the government officials. They dictate and pay unfair compensation, they stop us from using our property before compensation and we cannot access courts of law because of high costs and distances as well as poverty in our communities. All these are violations to our rights.

9. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE CONCERNS, Mr. Chairman, through this petition, we request you to do the following for us:

a. Consult us and put in place up to date a list of rates of compensation regarding our crops and Nonpermanent buildings, and distribute copies of the rates to us.

b. Ask the minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to put in place the regulations for assessment and payment of compensation as required by section 20 of the Land Acquisition Act, Cap 226 of 1965. In the regulations, ask them to provide for the following:

c. Set a time frame within which the compensation should be paid after the assessment,

d. Protection of the property owner to enjoy his/her property without any interference until he/she is fully compensated,

e. A right of the affected person to decide where he or she should be resettled after displacement,

f. A right of the affected person to be given accurate and timely information regarding the amount of compensation,

g. An option to lease the land by the affected person and repossessing it after project exhaustion.

h. Establish a Compensation and Resettlement Appeals Tribunal (CRAT) headed by a justice of the High Court to ensure access to affordable justice to the affected people.

Conclusion:

Once again, we thank you for accepting to meet and receive our petition. We pray that you will address our concerns with the utmost urgency. We Thank You.

For God and My Country

Signed By:

PWYP is a civil society global initiative that was founded in 2002 to help citizens of resource rich countries hold their governments accountable for the management of resources from the oil, gas and mining industries.The campaign comprises of over 300 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) across the world including: Global Witness, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), OXFAM, Save the Children UK, Transparency International UK and Revenue Watch Institute. Over 30 national coalitions have been formed across the world in countries like: Ghana, Nigeria, Gabon, U.S.A and many others. On 8th October 2008, Africa Institute for Energy Governance coordinated the official launch of PWYP (Uganda).

Currently, PWYP-U is working with its members to ensure that Uganda’s legal, policy and institutional mechanisms for extractive resources and particularly oil governance are sufficiently put in place to ensure revenue transparency and accountability in Uganda during production of the above resources. PWYP-U is also aimed at training and empowering its members with knowledge and expertise in order to demand for transparency and accountability in and management of extractive resources and revenues that will be generated in future. Our activities are also aimed at promoting effective implementation of the 2008 Oil and Gas policy-Uganda through radio talk shows, TV shows, opinion articles in the national press. In particular, all member NGOs of PWYP-U are working hard to persuade the minister of energy to ensure the implementation of Objective VI of the policy which states that the Ugandan government will participate in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Since its launch the coalition has been involved in a number of activities. In February 2009, PWYP Uganda organised a training workshop for coalition members and other selected groups to build the capacity of the coalition. Since then the following key activities have taken place:

• Participation in a number of Environmental Impact Assessment public hearings on oil in Uganda.
• Worked with the National Democratic Institute-Washington to organize a visit by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MPs to Uganda to assess the level of oil governance in Uganda oil industry.
• Organized training on oil governance and transparency for University Students leaders at Makerere University Kampala.
• Sent a Member of Parliament to attend the fourth EITI Global conference in Doha-Qatar.
• Published a brochure and info-sheet to popularize EITI in Uganda.
• Hold a workshop on contract transparency.
• Compel, through legal channels and through public campaigning, the government of Uganda to release the Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) as part of efforts to ensure transparency in Uganda’s oil industry.
• Launch a communication strategy to communicate EITI in Uganda.
• Mobilize the public to effectively participate in the consultations on new petroleum law in Uganda.
• Organization of training and lectures by Dr. Keith Myers from Richmond Energy Partners ltd – UK on Oil and Development Options for Uganda and Jacqueline Weaver from Houston University – USA on Oil and the Legal Regime for African Oil Producing Countries.

In July 2010, PWYP-Uganda – Bunyoro chapter was launched, where the chapter is to work hand in hand with the main coalition to promote Transparency and accountability in the Oil sector in their communities. Many CSO’s, CBO’s, Media and Religious leaders from all the districts in the region became members meaning that in each District we have a member of the chapter.

For more information contact:
Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO)
Plot 1288, Space centre building, Buwate – Kiira Town Council
Email: afiego@afiego.org