Bunyoro Threaten Legal Action over Ugandan Exploration

Uganda’s government could be facing legal action if the cultural leaders of Uganda's Bunyoro Kingdom move forward with threats. The Bunyoro are up in arms over oil exploration activities in their kingdom. The government has promised to hold talks to resolve the issue.

According to a Dow Jones Newswire report, Yolamu Nsamba, the principal private secretary of the king of Bunyoro, said the government has breached the pre-independence agreement of 1955, which provides that Bunyoro is entitled to a portion of the revenue received from exploration in its kingdom.

"For years now, the central government has been dealing with oil exploration companies secretly yet the law has never been changed," he said, adding that kingdom officials have already informed the central government of its intentions.

A government official told Dow Jones Newswires separately that the central government would soon start talks with kingdom officials to resolve the issue. Uganda is expected to see its first oil production in 2010.