Oil and gas linkages with other sectors explained

______________

Oil and gas players have been advised on the opportunities to be created through linkages between the oil and gas sector and other sectors of the economy.  

The opportunities are were explained at the first Sectoral Linkages' Conference taking place at Speke Resort Munyonyo with the aim of maximising and ensuring broad-based economic growth and development in the country. 

During the two-day conference (which started on Thursday, April 11, 2024 and ends on Friday, April 12, 2024), a number of opportunities have been highlighted in the areas of; Agriculture, Health, Real estate, Tourism, Financial services among many others. 

"Instead of viewing the oil and gas industry in isolation from the rest of the economy, awareness of the potential sectoral links is very important because it will lead to policy decisions and investments that will ensure the linkages are exploited," noted the Corporate Affairs Manager at Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Gloria Sebikari, during the event.  

In the Agricultural sector for example, it was reported that there is an increasing demand for products like milk and meat along the EACOP route and the Albertine region due to increased population. And this is an opportunity for farmers to invest in areas like livestock farming and set up supportive facilities like establishment of milk collecting centers, cooling and cold facilities from dairy products and meat, according to a latest report by the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), which was read during the conference.

A participant during the first Sectoral Linkages' conference taking place at Speke Resort Munyonyo. (Credit: Moses Kigongo)

"About one million people are expected in the Albertine region because of the intensified activities, and these have greatly impacted demand for milk and meat positively. Therefore, people who would like to benefit from the various opportunities within the Agricultural sector can take advantage of the existing gaps in dairy and livestock subsector to achieve it," advised Mary Kajjumba, one of the officials from EPRC, while making her presentation during a panel discussion about Agricultural opportunities within the oil and gas sector.

From the health sector, opportunities were identified after a research that was conducted by PAU, which indicated that facilities such as standard pharmacies along the EACOP route, modern laboratories, trained emergency evacuation officers and health logistics like standard ambulances, are still lacking within the Albertine region and other areas where most of the oil projects are being developed, thus an opportunity for people along the health value chain to tap and benefit from the oil and gas sector.

The theme of the event is "Linkages: Leveraging Uganda's Oil and Gas Sector with Other Sectors of the Economy to Enhance Broad-based Economic Growth and Development" And has been attended by participants from different Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, the private sector, civil society, and academia.

The conference is designed to be “hands-on” with thought-provoking presentations, panel discussions and interactive Q&A sessions. It will has featured the opportunities identified under Agriculture, Health, Housing, Tourism and the Financial Services sectors among others, and propose the required strategies to harness the linkages. 

Oil and gas sector players including, contractors, suppliers, regulators, government, students and private individuals, were invited, and advised (by the Executive Director of PAU Ernest Rubondo), to leverage on the existing oil and gas infrastructures like the modern roads, airport among others to harness the various opportunities to transform the country.