Although the vibrancy of the Uganda media continues to grow against all odds, major challenges remain in terms of capturing the significance or relevance of the events and issues in the news.

After all the passionate debate that the lack of adequate legislation on oil exploration and production generated, especially following the resolutions passed overwhelmingly by parliament last October, it is shocking and disappointing that the mainstream media have covered the tabling of the Petroleum (Exploration, Development And Production) Bill, 2012 without any serious attempt at providing context.

Of course as a former editor, I am not blind to the fact that the tabling of the Bill on Wednesday came at the same time as another popular story – the release of the Senior Four results. In Uganda, very few events beat the release of national examination results in terms of selling newspaper copies.

Yet, the exploration and production of oil in Uganda is probably going to be one of the biggest stories of the next 10 years. It is a story that deserves serious attention and analysis.

The purpose of the new Bill “is to give effect to article 244 of the Constitution; to regulate petroleum exploration, development and production; to establish the Petroleum Authority of Uganda; to provide for establishment of the National Oil Company; to regulate the licensing and participation of commercial entities in petroleum operations; to provide for an open, transparent and competitive process of licensing; to create a conducive environment for the promotion of exploration, development and production of Uganda's petroleum potential; to provide for efficient and safe petroleum activities; to provide for the cessation of petroleum activities and decommissioning of infrastructure; to provide for the payment arising from petroleum operations; to provide for the conditions for the restoration of derelict lands; to repeal the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, Cap 150; and for related matters.”

In “Govt tables oil Bill,” Daily Monitor of Thursday generally focused on the purpose of the Bill and what Minister of State for Minerals Kamanda Bataringaya said in Parliament when tabling the proposed law.

In “Govt to set up national oil company” The New Vision of Friday similarly focused on the new institutions that the proposed law will create.

None of these news reports contained sufficient background and context about the proposed law. Moreover, none of these reports was based on multiple sourcing; for instance, what was the reaction of the many MPs and civil society activists who had been demanding for the tabling of the bills?

Here are some questions that should have been answered in order for the stories on the tabling of the bill to provide better context to Ugandans:

• Why is the current law, the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, Cap 150 of 2000 not sufficient?

• What is provided for in Article 244 of the Constitution (which the proposed law is giving effect to)?

• What are the new provisions that have been introduced in the Bill (remember there were earlier versions of the Bill)?

• How different is the Bill from the current law?

• What role will the new institutions, the Petroleum Authority and the National Oil Company, play?

• Does the proposed law provide for transparency and accountability in the constitution and operation of these institutions?

• What kind of budget has been considered for running these institutions?

• How does Uganda’s Bill compare to laws of countries such as Ghana that have recently started oil production?

• Does the law cure that lack of transparency (and secrecy) that has surrounded the sector thus far? How?

• What powers if any does the proposed law give to the Minister of Energy and Minerals as well as the President?

• Does the law give parliament enough oversight over the operation of the sector?

Several civil society organizations such and experts have already come up with interesting comments on some of these questions. Journalists should proactively seek comments from these organizations and individuals. They should also take the authors of the Bill to task to justify what they have come up with.

It is not too late to ask these questions, and more important to answer them through solid reporting.

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About the Author: Dr. Mwesige is Executive Editor of the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME). He is a former executive editor of The Monitor in Kampala and head of the department of journalism and Mass Communication at Makerere University.

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