Kikuube women accuse leaders of limited engagement in the Oil & gas sector

KIKUUBE, UGANDA: Ahead of the belated Women’s Day celebrations for Kikuube District on Friday 5th May 2023, a section of women in Kikuube say despite the discovery of oil and gas at King Fisher in Kyangwali Sub-county, their leaders have failed to lobby for their counterparts to benefit in the Oil and gas sector.

Noeline Akugizibwe a maize farmer in Kitooke village, Ijwanjura parish Kabwoya Sub-county in Kikuube district say despite their tireless efforts to increase maize production in the District, women leaders have continuously failed to avail conditions that could favour them to sell them at a higher price.

“Women more especially we in the agricultural sector have not benefited in the discovery of oil and gas in the district because our tireless efforts to increase agricultural production have been let down by poor methods of farming, fluctuating prices of agricultural products accompanied by poor road network which has hindered the transportation of our products as well try to look for better markets,” Mrs Akugizibwe said.

According to Akugizibwe, after the discovery of the oil and gas sector in the district, they had many expectations that they will be boosted by their leaders with various modern farming methods so as to increase their output as well as improving on the quality of their products.

Evelyn Kyakutegekeire a female school dropout in Kikuube town council currently dealing in street vending says as female school dropouts they have not been engaged in various technical Skilling activities to boost their accessibility to the Oil and gas sector.

“Many young girls have dropped out of schools here in Kikuube district due to various reasons ranging from lack of financial support to early marriages/ Pregnancy, however, we have not been supported by our leaders despite our expression of interest to acquire such skills. Kyakutegekeire said.

Kyakutegekeire says a few who have attained such skills are either connected to big families or forced to pay bribes in order to be considered for training.

Moreen Twesigye a produce dealer in the Nsozi trading centre in Kyangwali Sub-county accuse Kikuube leaders of the delayed access to Parish Development Model cash where many women joined various Saccos with expectations of getting money from the government to boost their businesses.

Twesigye says due to the delay of PDM money in the district, many women’s projects have starved due to limited finance and that their hope to gain in the oil and gas industry remains unanticipated.

Meanwhile, Hon Florence Natumanya, the Kikuube District Woman Member of parliament in an interview with journalists on Tuesday said, many women in Kikuube District have not engaged themselves in various government programs that could have helped them gain benefits in the oil and gas sector.

“As government, we have established various youth Skilling programs in the district to prepare our people for the forthcoming Oil and Gas sector jobs but we have been let down by the limited number of female youths who apply for these life Skilling programs,” Hon. Natumanya said.