Henry Mukasa
17 May 2009
Kampala — IRAN has agreed to fund the entire value chain of Uganda's oil production. Iran will also jointly fund the construction of an oil refinery in Uganda.
The agreement was reached during President Yoweri Museveni's three-day visit to Iran, where he held talk with his counterpart, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and addressed the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines.
A communiqué issued at the end of the visit said the two countries will also expand co-operation in agriculture, especially agro-processing, investment, energy, mining, industry, vocational training, air transport, banking, ICT, public security and foreign relations.
The two presidents re-affirmed their commitment to strengthen relations between their countries.
"Regarding the field of energy in particular, the two leaders agreed to consider co-operation in building an oil refinery in Uganda.
"On its part, Iran agreed to train Ugandans in its University of Petroleum Studies and other institutions in Iran in the relevant fields of petroleum," a statement issued by State House said.
"Iran also expressed its readiness to invest in the entire value chain of Uganda's petroleum industry."
Uganda's discovered oil resource in the Lake Albertine Graben is so far estimated at 600 million barrels of oil.
Iran also expressed willingness to consider Uganda's request for the supply of fuel for Uganda's thermal power plant, while President Ahmadinejad accepted Museveni's invitation to visit Uganda.
They agreed to co-operate in production, processing and marketing of agro-products as well as in agricultural mechanisation. The two nations would also curve out a free trade zone.
On international affairs, the Presidents reviewed the situation in the Middle East and Afghanistan as well as the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa.
They reiterated their commitment to disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
"They also re-affirmed the right of developing countries to develop nuclear energy for peaceful (development) purposes."
At a news conference later, Museveni observed that relations between Uganda and Iran have been excellent over the past 30 years.
Ahmadinejad said Iran would ensure there are no obstacles in its bi-lateral trade with Uganda.
The President, who returns today, was accompanied by ministers for trade and industry, ICT, energy and minerals and international affairs.
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If this is true, The president of Uganda might have just saved his bacon. And the operative is "just." Regardless of who he does business with, political defeat at the next general elections was fast becoming a foregone conclusion. Any move to cheat the country of it's oil revenue wealth is guaranteed to throw the great lakes into absolute chaos. The war predicted by Omukama Kabalega's seers was and is still on the cards. But maybe, just maybe, this war will be averted for the Omukama left Ankole alone so that the Chewzi would fulfil their destiny, and repeal the ancient tag of corrupt to the bone. It has long been debatable whether P. Museveni was capable of so illustrious a task...