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-profit organisations 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).

ince 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:

• 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.
• 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