"Why citizen engagement is critical for East Africa oil and gas sector"

... The...[east African] oil and gas industry has potential to become an additional revenue stream to enable delivery of social services to citizens. This is important given the mounting debt levels with limited avenues for domestic revenue mobilisation amidst an urgent need to respond to health and economic shocks posed by the Covid-19 pandemic...

Unfortunately, a culture of secrecy often shrouds the oil and gas sector, whereas public engagement and information sharing would support better policy implementation and help ensure that decisions and agreements truly serve countries’ financial and development interests. While companies buying or selling interests is normal, constitutional provisions in both Kenya and Uganda vest ownership of natural resources in the citizens, and governments as trustees.

By sharing information about taxes and other forms of revenue, governments and companies demonstrate a commitment to using oil and gas industry revenue to promote socio-economic transformation.