Community Information Needs in the Oil and Gas sector in Uganda

In Uganda, the right of access to information is guaranteed under the constitution; and various laws and policies are in place to ensure that citizens have access to information. However, despite the existing laws and policies, few citizens have used them to access information, and government has not been sufficiently proactive in providing access to information in most sectors. The extractives sector, particularly the oil and gas sector, has been shrouded in secrecy, denial and limited access to information. This has left those who are both directly and indirectly affected by oil and gas developments unable to make informed decisions on issues and events which concern their lives and livelihoods.

Furthermore, with the limited information they receive, they cannot ensure that their rights are being respected. As oil and gas developments in some areas are now moving from the exploration to the production stage and as multiple oil-related infrastructure projects are currently under way, the need for affected populations to receive appropriate and usable information on these developments is highly pertinent.