Cabinet has approved the signing of production sharing agreements and grant of exploration licenses for an initial 2 years period to Uganda national oil company and DGR energy Turaco Uganda SMC limited a company from Australia. Under this arrangement, the Uganda national oil company will find suitable joint venture partners within the first exploration period.

The acting commissioner petroleum exploration, development and production Frank Mugisha says issuance of these licenses will come with benefits inter terms of revenues and employment. Meanwhile Cabinet has approved the full implementation of the parish Development model by February this year with parishes that fail to have competent SACCOS in place likely to face sanctions

Minister of local government Rafael Magezi says that since August last year to date a total of 86000 parishes have been cleared to disburse funds to SACCOS out of the planned over 10,000 SACCOS.

Minister Magyezi says that all Parishes and SACCOS are expected to be ready to disburse funds to beneficiaries or face sanctions. At the same Cabinet sitting, ministers approved the appointment of 7 members of the seventh local government finance commission which has not been in place for almost one year

The 7 members include former minister Isaac Musumba, former Mp Emma Boona and other members including Joseph Lomoyang,Martine Unzia, Naima Sumbua, Mariam Nalubega and Ignatius Besisira

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