Ugandan Freighters Vow to Protect their Interests in Oil and Gas
231 members of the Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA) have vowed to fight for and protect their interests and opportunities in the oil and gas sector. These noted that some schemers have started taking over opportunities that are meant to Ugandan companies in the sector.
Between $15Bn and $20Bn will be invested in the sector in the next three years. Speaking at their 20th Annual General Meeting yesterday, Hussein Kiddede the out-going UFFA Chairperson said that they will work closely with the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, the Works Ministry, Finance Ministry, Energy Ministry and other MDAs to ensure that the local content aspect is realized.
“We know that early works started and contracts are being issued but there is need to monitor on ground that they are actually happening,” he said. “When it comes to employment, as an association we have skilled at certificate level 1952 members working closely with URA under the East African Community Freight Forwarding Practice Certificate and now introducing FIATA Diploma to gain accreditation because our industry is unique that we want to ensure that we have got all these accreditations preparing the locals to partake in such projects,”
Isaac Nsereko the Director of DT Logistics said that they are more than ready to participate in the sector. “We are sending a warning to anyone that is circulating rumors that we are not ready. We are ready and we have the will to protect our rights. They can see the equipment if they go around they will see our trucks, we have been waiting for contracts that have begun coming in and we have started delivering on the early works. Like we are at the moment moving fabricated houses from Mombasa to Buliisa for building the 400-man camp in Tilenga; we are not speculative but already delivering the work,” he said adding,
“There are schemers who have taken some of the early works because we have seen some Kenyan trucks delivering cargo for oil and gas in total violation of the local content rule; we are not sure why it’s so but we are sure that that cannot be sustained in the long run. Addressing the members about their progress, Kiddede said that the freight logistics industry is fast evolving and becoming more dynamic than ever before with several emerging disruptive Innovations, many of which are a blessing to the industry.
“The Covid-19 pandemic underpinned the essential role of this industry in the economic and social sustainability of Uganda, as was the case globally. Technology is the next inevitable disruption and as Logistics Service Providers, we need to either build or adapt systems that will enhance the resilience of our organizations, ICT and globalization continue to create a new world order, a knowledge based eco-system” where collaboration technologies, innovative processes, information sharing, re-skilling and upskilling, visibility, quality, and safety certified standards are key to competitiveness,” he said adding.”