Civil Society coalition on Oil and Gas (CSCO) is asking government to halt the issuing of oil exploration licenses to all companies that have interest in the Virunga National Park for fear of damaging the Eco system in the area. Virunga , shared by both Uganda and Dr. Congo is one of the UNESCO world heritage sights that attracts several tourists.
Sabinyo volcano and thick forest, habitat of the endangered Mountain gorilla Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo
A case in point is the Ngaji oil block which covers part of Lake Edward and Queen Elizabeth National park and this boarders Virunga National Park.
In a press conference, the chairperson of CSCO Iren Sekyana explains allowing the drilling and exploration of oil in this area at risk given the several habitats; the several species and more so might affect the fishing at Lake Edward. She adds that if there any licenses given out already; these have to be withdrawn because the two countries have an obligation to protect this tourist sight in the UNESCO convention.
Sekyana adds that oil exploration in the area is likely to cause a fall in the number of visitors at the queen Elizabeth National Park who contribute 8% of the country’s annual revenue.