The Geopolitics of Access to Oil Resources: The Case of Uganda

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................ i

APPROVAL .............................................................................................................................. ii

DEDICATION .......................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................... iv

ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................. v

TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................... vi

ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. ix

CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................ 1

INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background of the study ...................................................................................................... 1

1.1.2 The regional Dynamics of Oil: ......................................................................................... 2

1.1.3 The International players .................................................................................................. 2

1.2 Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................................ 5

1.4 Specific Objectives .............................................................................................................. 5

1.5 Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 5

1.6 Justification of the study ...................................................................................................... 5

1. 7 Definition of Key Concepts ................................................................................................. 7

CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................................... 8

LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 8

2.0 OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 8

VI

2.1 Foreign policy and diplomacy in exploiting their oil and gas resources ............................. 8

2.3Contemporary trends of oil trade and Diplomacy ................................................................ 9

2.4Geopolitics and the Resource Curse ................................................................................... II

2.5Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 13

CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................. 15

METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................. 15

3 .I Research Design ................................................................................................................. 15

3 .2Population and Study Area ................................................................................................. 15

3.4Data collection methods ..................................................................................................... 16

3 .5Data analysis ....................................................................................................................... 17

3.6Research procedure ............................................................................................................. 17

3.7Ethical dimensions .............................................................................................................. 17

CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................................... 18

FINDINGS ............................................................................................................................... 18

4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 18

4.2The Role of the State in Oil Management .......................................................................... 18

4.2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 18

4.2.2Negotiation of oil contracts ............................................................................................. 18

4.2.3Resources and Revenue Management ............................................................................. 21

3.2.4Democracy and adherence to the rule of law as essential elements in oil management .24

3.2.6International Human rights standards on oil management .............................................. 27

Vll

4.3Regional and Intemational Geopolitics of oil... .................................................................. 29

4.3.1Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 29

4.3.2International influence of Access to oil ........................................................................... 30

4.3.3Region Geographical Aspects of Uganda's Access to Oil .............................................. 32

4.3.4The ICGLR Membership and Regional Peace ................................................................ 35

4.4Environmental Issue and Climate Change .......................................................................... 36

4.4.1 National Environmental Concerns for Uganda ............................................................... 36

4.4.2International Environmental Concerns ............................................................................ 36

CHAPTER FIVE ..................................................................................................................... 39

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................... 39

5.1 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 39

5.1.1 National Realities of Uganda's access to her oil ............................................................. 39

5.2.1 The Geographical Location of Uganda ............................................................................ 40

5.2.2The Small Quantity of Oil the Reserves .......................................................................... 40

5.2.3The Regional Influence .................................................................................................... 41

5.2.4Trans-boundary natural resources and environmental concerns ..................................... 41

5.2.4Uganda's Oil and Gas Policy ........................................................................................... 41

5.4.5Corruption and Political Instability ................................................................................. 42

REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................ 43  

ABSTRACT Fourteen years ago, Uganda joined other sub-Saharan African Countries with new discoveries of oil; and just as the case always is, this news comes with high prospects for development and economic transformation. These ambitious projections are always based on the success stories of oil money in other countries without prr:judice to the fear of the infamous oil curse that results from poor exploitation of oil revenues. With these aspirations at hand, Uganda has clearly stated in its national polices and development plans the fact that the country's development in the next 30 years shall be largely dependent on exploitation of its natural resources- such as oil.