Leaders and residents in the Bunyoro sub-region have expressed dissatisfaction with oil and gas companies, accusing them of falling short in fulfilling promises to prioritise local content through employment and business opportunities for host communities. The concerns were raised during a supplier development workshop held in Hoima City aimed at empowering local communities and businesses to participate effectively in Uganda’s oil and gas sector. Some residents and leaders said oil companies have not done enough to ensure meaningful participation of communities in areas where major oil projects are being implemented. Hoima District Chairperson Uthuman Mugisha said there are still challenges regarding employment opportunities, with many local residents being offered mainly low-paying casual jobs despite the government’s emphasis on local content. "Even when locals are hired, they are mostly offered low-paying casual jobs, which is contrary to the objective of promoting local content in the industry," Mugisha said. He also raised concerns over the nature of contracts awarded to local companies, saying many businesses in Bunyoro only receive low-value contracts, limiting their ability to benefit significantly from the oil and gas sector. Mugisha urged oil companies to increase corporate social responsibility support to local governments hosting oil projects.

Hoima District Woman Member of Parliament Beatrice Wembabazi called for the recruitment of community workers to help local people register and access opportunities available in the oil and gas industry. She, however, urged communities to embrace local content initiatives and acquire the necessary skills to benefit from opportunities created by the sector. Leonard Kusemererwa, a Hoima City resident and local contractor, criticised oil companies, claiming some local businesses have struggled to receive payments for services provided. He alleged that his company and other contractors in Bunyoro are owed about US$10 million (approximately Shs37 billion) for services delivered more than three years ago. Kusemererwa did not disclose the names of the companies he worked with that allegedly failed to clear the outstanding payments. Another Hoima City resident, Richard Mwesigwa, called on oil companies to prioritise participation of communities hosting oil projects. The Bunyoro sub-region is currently hosting two major oil and gas developments: the Kingfisher project operated by CNOOC Uganda in Kikuube District and the Tilenga project operated by TotalEnergies EP Uganda in Buliisa District.

Responding to the concerns, Eric Odongo, an economist at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), encouraged local businesses to register on the National Supplier Database (NSD) to qualify for opportunities in the oil and gas sector. On delayed payments, Odongo advised contractors to be proactive when seeking contracts and encouraged them to form joint ventures to build capacity and meet the supply requirements of the industry. Roidah Kiconco, Head of Exploration and New Ventures at Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), said there has been significant improvement in Ugandan participation in the oil and gas sector, with many beneficiaries coming from the project-hosting Bunyoro region. She attributed the progress to interventions by oil companies aimed at skilling local communities for employment opportunities within the industry. Jessica Kyeyune, a National Content Specialist at UNOC, urged local businesses and farmers to explore opportunities beyond oil and gas, including the planned oil refinery and international airport projects that could connect them to wider markets. "We expect the final investment decision regarding the refinery to be reached by December this year, with construction works expected to take about three years," Kyeyune said. The supplier development workshop brought together government officials, oil sector players, local leaders and business owners to discuss ways of strengthening local participation and ensuring communities benefit from Uganda’s emerging oil and gas industry.