Our thematic group on Policy, Legal and Governance seeks to influence the development and reform of the legal and policy framework governing oil and gas to promote good governance of the petroleum resources. The extractive sector governance is still inadequate in terms of the policy environment, practice, and due outcomes. There are increasing concerns regarding the slow and inadequate implementation of policies and enforcement of laws which have been enacted and those which are currently under review. As the sector evolves, developments in the implementation of these policies demonstrate gaps that were not evident at the time of the enactment and these necessitate amendment of selected provisions or in some cases, an overhaul. Some policy instruments are still lacking while changes in approach on the part of government has created an uphill task for CSO oversight, for instance fragmenting the regulatory framework by developing several regulations for the mining sub-sector.
As CSCO, we have contributed to the extractives governance review and will continue to monitor the issues and commitments from this exercise. The government has updated a number of policy instruments to accommodate new emerging issues to which CSCO should make an input. For instance, the necessity for setting up a National Mining Company similar to the Uganda National Oil Company. Policy audits, continuous policy monitoring, engagement in evidence-based policy development is an important undertaking for government and other key stakeholders. Through this thematic group, CSCO will step-up its engagements into new areas of research and sectors that closely associate with developments in the extractives sector.