Africa-Press – Uganda. The government has appointed a new Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) to oversee the implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) standards in Uganda, reinforcing its commitment to transparency and accountability in the oil, gas and mining sectors.
The transition was officiated by the Minister of State for Finance (General Duties), Henry Musasizi, during the 39th Uganda EITI MSG meeting held at Protea Hotel in Kampala.
The ceremony marked the handover from outgoing members to a newly appointed team tasked with steering the country’s extractives transparency agenda.
Musasizi described EITI as the “cornerstone” of Uganda’s governance framework for the extractive sector, stressing that sound management of natural resources is critical to the country’s long-term development ambitions.
“Natural resources, if well managed, can be a powerful driver of inclusive growth, economic transformation, and sustainable development,” he said.
The MSG is chaired by Moses Kaggwa, Director of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
The body brings together representatives from the Government of Uganda, international development partners and civil society organisations, forming a tripartite platform designed to promote openness and dialogue around extractive revenues.
Musasizi commended the outgoing members for what he described as significant progress made during their tenure. Among the achievements cited were the consistent production of Uganda EITI reports, improvements in data management and accessibility, and the strengthening of frameworks for monitoring revenue flows from oil, gas and mining activities.
He cautioned the incoming members that public scrutiny over extractive resource governance is intensifying, particularly as Uganda moves closer to commercial oil production.
The Minister urged the new team to ensure that revenues generated from natural resources are fully integrated into national development planning and public financial management systems.
“The MSG should ensure that the EITI process is well aligned with the country’s national development priorities,” Musasizi said, reiterating the government’s commitment to upholding EITI principles.
Chairperson Moses Kaggwa noted that over the past five years, the Uganda EITI platform has helped build trust among stakeholders and improve information sharing between government agencies, companies and civil society.
Looking ahead, Kaggwa outlined a detailed roadmap for the group’s next phase of work. Uganda EITI is seeking the active involvement of the Office of the Auditor General as an Independent Administrator for upcoming report production, a move aimed at strengthening independent oversight and credibility.
The MSG is also preparing for an “Extractives Week” scheduled for May 2026, an event intended to showcase progress in the sector and provide a platform for public engagement on transparency issues.
Most significantly, Uganda is scheduled to undergo its second EITI validation on October 1, 2026.
The validation process is a global assessment mechanism that measures a country’s compliance with international transparency standards in the extractive industries.
The outcome of the validation will be closely watched by investors, development partners and civil society actors, particularly as Uganda advances major oil and gas infrastructure projects.
Officials say strengthening transparency mechanisms now is essential to ensuring that the country’s resource wealth translates into broad-based economic gains.
