Kampala — HERITAGE Oil will soon start exploration works at seven new sites in Murchison Falls National Park. Tragically, the seven sites are located in the middle of the main tourism area. Four wells will be drilled along the Pakwach-Paara track.

Two others are expected to be in the first part of Buligi, the main safari track running into the Delta valley, while the last one will be near the Nile Delta.

The area is home to hundreds of giraffes, elephants, buffaloes and antelopes and provides some of the most magnificent sceneries of the world famous park. It also contains the main water sources.

Conservationists and tourism stakeholders are rightly worried. It will be impossible to hide the oil works from the tourists. Palm trees will need to be cut. The noise and light will cause the animals to migrate - either to the east or to the north, areas where vegetation and water sources are not suitable.

An environment impact study will be done prior to drilling and the oil company has committed itself to restoring the area into its original state.

But the firm's track record is poor. Buffalo 1 testing site, where drilling finished in May, looks like a chunk eaten out of the landscape. Trees have not been replanted, the soil is polluted and most of the animals are gone.

The Government needs oil for its energy needs. But oil should not be at the expense of tourism - one of the fastest growing sectors, both in terms of revenues and employment.

Uganda should avoid the trap many oil-rich countries fell into and not neglect its other sectors of the economy.

The Government should realise that oil is a short term business - it will be gone in 20 or 30 years -, whereas the animals and parks are there to stay.

In particular, Heritage Oil should learn from the Nigerian experience. It should be transparent, respect the environment and protect Uganda's long-term interests.