Following the on going oil exploration consultative meetings by the Ministry of energy in Teso that spacked mixed reactions from the public and their Members of parliament. Hon Joan Alobo alias Arrow girl and Soroti city West Member of parliament Hon Ebwalu on 18th of January 2024 staged a protest against the ideal of the consultattive meetings stating that the meetings were quak and not in good faith.
Soroti city at large of late is facing various hardships with no one coming out to talk about the issues leading to the continous demostrations and strikes.That aside here is what Hon. Joan Alobo has to say ;
Good morning colleagues and people of Teso, atleast i am sure we all know how long and far the Market issue has gone, and nobody responsible is concerned about solving any issue there , and how much some of us have tried round table discussions with the city Authorities and no positive response has been done.
About the oil and Minerals, let me put it clear and forward, Nobody is against and exploration of Minerals here, but what is being done is what was done in Hoima and Bullisa, where a few local Councils were met, Signatures taken in approval of a small compensation of the people affected,
How would you feel being evicted from 5 acres and being compensated with 1 acre even if it has a small house of 1 bedroom and one sitting room,
I will not talk much, but some of you will appreciate our activities later when they start evicting your fathers and mothers from their land without proper compensation,
Let’s us get this very Clearly,
The Minister of Energy was meant to call all the Teso MPs meet with them to discuss the issue and areas that have been mapped out and discuss way forward, but that didn’t happen.
Minister was supposed to issue a statement in parliament on the new areas that have been discovered for exploration of Oil and Minerals that also didn’t happen,
Minister was atleast supposed to Invite the Immediate Area Mps to a meeting if they chose it to be held in the area like it was yesterday, but they didn’t invite anyone. Not even the NRM Mps, they just can’t come on board because they fear to be misunderstood and what will “PAPA” say if they are seen complaining in such ways,
What we are seing is exactly what happened in Hoima, people were made to sign compensation forms without being allowed to read and the local councils were supporting the Ministry full blast, just because they had given them some “Kitu Kidogo”during their meeting they held as local council and ministry,
We have done our best to Whistle blow, you can call it names, Cheap Popularity, wasting time, Unserious, comedy, Politics,
It’s not the first time i am sending a message through demonstrations, and after demonstrations some things are put right,
and there are still more demonstrations coming, until our city wakes up and prioritizes Service Delivery instead of their Stomacs.
Iam not about to stop fighting for my people, if you wish to join please join, if u dont wish to join, nobody will come for you to join.
Let’s watch the space, we may also choose to go silent, but when the real time comes and police is evicting your fathers and mothers and ourselves from the points they ought to use ,Let’s not shoot back again at some of us,
As I conclude, You should know that nothing comes from government unplanned, what the minster has chosen to do is planned and its subbotage. God bless all of us,God bless Teso
Hon Alobo Joan aka Arrowgirl
Attempts to get a word from the Minister of Energy were futile