Butiaba Port which has been passive for 48 years is to be redeveloped in order to ease transportation between Uganda and the DRC,Daily Monitor has learnt. The port will be redeveloped by Tullow Uganda Operations Pty, a company exploring oil in the Albertine region, for the transportation of heavy machines for offshore oil drilling in Lake Albert. Works and Transport Minister John Nasasira said on April 4 that the port will be crucial for the transportation of heavy machines to be used in the exploration of offshore oil on Lake Albert.
"For 40 years we have been using canoes. Investors have come to redevelop the port using their own money," Mr Nasasira said.
The land where the port is located is owned by Uganda Railways Corporation. The port ceased operations in the 1960s. URC abandoned the port and residents encroached on the land and vandalised the equipment.
Nevertheless, part of the land is to be leased out to Tullow Oil for some time after which it will hand it over to the government. The period Tullow will use the port for has not been agreed on yet.
"For 40 years we have been using canoes. Investors have come to redevelop the port using their own money," Mr Nasasira said.
The land where the port is located is owned by Uganda Railways Corporation. The port ceased operations in the 1960s. URC abandoned the port and residents encroached on the land and vandalised the equipment.
Nevertheless, part of the land is to be leased out to Tullow Oil for some time after which it will hand it over to the government. The period Tullow will use the port for has not been agreed on yet.