Last update:
2015-01-20

Oil refinery in Hoima district and evictions, Uganda


Description:

In 2006, Uganda discovered commercially viable oil deposits in the Albertine Graben region. Since then, the government embarked on establishing effective management procedures to promote growth and development for the country [1] But the oil extraction has impacted local residents in a number of ways. 7.000 individuals belonging to communities in Kabale-Buseruka, Hoima District, were in fact evicted to pave way for the construction of an oil refinery. They were offered the choice between compensation and resettlement; while some residents have been compensated and moved to new settlements, some have still not received any compensation. Some of those who opted for compensation rejected the offer after they discovered their properties had been undervalued. People living in Hoima, in fact, report undervaluation of their agriculture and property, payments which do not match agreed compensation rates, and interruption of livelihoods.

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Basic Data
Name of conflict:Oil refinery in Hoima district and evictions, Uganda
Country:Uganda
Location of conflict:Hoima
Accuracy of locationMEDIUM (Regional level)
Source of Conflict
Type of conflict. 1st level:Fossil Fuels and Climate Justice/Energy
Type of conflict. 2nd level:Oil and gas exploration and extraction
Land acquisition conflicts
Specific commodities:Crude oil
Project Details and Actors
Project details

The successful consortia will have a 60 percent stake in the refinery expected hold an output capacity of 30,000 barrels per day in 2018. The refinery will however have an overall capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, but it will not function to full capacity until 2020.

Level of Investment for the conflictive project2,500,000,000
Type of populationRural
Affected Population:7,000
Start of the conflict:01/01/2012
Company names or state enterprises:Sun Africa from Congo, Dem. Rep.
Relevant government actors:Ugandan Government
Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available:Global Rights Alert (GRA), African Energy Institute for Governance (AFIEGO)
Conflict & Mobilization
IntensityMEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization)
Reaction stageIn REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation)
Groups mobilizing:Farmers
International ejos
Religious groups
Forms of mobilization:Creation of alternative reports/knowledge
Development of a network/collective action
Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism
Official complaint letters and petitions
Impacts
Environmental ImpactsVisible: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion
Potential: Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Other Environmental impacts, Soil contamination, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover
Health ImpactsVisible: Other Health impacts
Potential: Health problems related to alcoholism, prostitution
Other Health impactsLack of food and good nutrition, food insecurity, accidents with wild animals. A report on Gender issues in Uganda’s Oil and Gas Sector Release in June 2014 by International Alert Uganda has revealed that the high population attracted to business in the Albertine region is a threat against the fight on HIV/AIDS due to the growing prevalence of sex industry in these communities [2]
Socio-economical ImpactsVisible: Displacement, Loss of livelihood, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures
Potential: Militarization and increased police presence, Specific impacts on women, Violations of human rights
Outcome
Project StatusProposed (exploration phase)
Conflict outcome / response:Compensation
Court decision (undecided)
Migration/displacement
Strengthening of participation
Under negotiation
Refusal of compensation
Proposal and development of alternatives:Affected families are calling for improved transparency, due compensation and resettlement and assurance that oil production will benefit all Ugandans.
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:No
Briefly explain:Compensation and resettlement has been promised but not fulfilled. Benefits from oil extractions do not come to the local communities.
Sources & Materials
Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc)

Oil Refinery Procurement and the New Property Rights and Compensation Law - COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY AFIEGO AND PARTNER NGOs/CBOs FROM THE BUNYORO SUB REGION AT THE END OF THREE STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOPS TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF A COMPANY TO BUILD THE OIL REFINERY AND TO COLLECT VIEWS FOR A PRIVATE MEMBERS BILL ENTITLED “THE RIGHT TO FAIR COMPENSATION AND TRANSPARENCY IN LAND ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT LAW, HELD IN BUGAMBE, BISO AND KIZIRANFUMBI- SUB COUNTIES OF HOIMA AND BULIISA DISTRICTS, BETWEEN 12TH AND 14TH AUGUST 2014
[click to view]

References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries

[2] International Aler's report - Governance and livelihoods in Uganda's oil-rich Albertine Graben
[click to view]

Uganda Land Alliance (ULA), LAND GRABBING AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITIES IN THE OIL RICH ALBERTINE REGION OF UGANDA
[click to view]

Policy Brief: Property and Compensation Rights in Uganda
[click to view]

Report: Oil Production and Uganda’s Budget for FY 2014/15 - A new report by Winfred Ngabiirwe of Global Rights Alert highlights concerns over the minimal inclusion of oil production costs in Uganda’s 2014-2015 national budget. Estimates suggest that Uganda may collect more than $3 billion USD annually in petroleum revenues, a figure equivalent to half the country’s current budget. However, the national budget does not prioritise the compensation of people displaced for the refinery, nor is there evidence that the government has already secured land on which to resettle those who opted for relocation.
[click to view]

[1] Local Communities and Oil Discoveries: A Study in Uganda’s Albertine Graben Region
[click to view]

Stories from Hoima: Oil Refinery and Delayed Compensation
[click to view]

Sun Africa investing in the oil exploration
[click to view]

Slide presentation on the exploration's impacts
[click to view]

Oil Refinery and Compensation: What Went Wrong?

This short film from Ugandan partner AFIEGO introduces Stella, one of more than 7,000 individuals affected by the planned construction of a refinery in Hoima District, Uganda. Local residents like Stella were offered the option of cash compensation or resettlement when their land was designated for oil production, but the process has been marked by delays and broken promises. People living in Hoima report undervaluation of their agriculture and property, payments which do not match agreed compensation rates, and interruption of livelihoods. Affected families call for improved transparency and assurance that oil production will benefit all Ugandans.
[click to view]

Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network

Uganda's Road to Oil: Kabaale-Buseruka Region - This short film was produced by IUCN-NL and ERA Films, with the cooperation of Afiego and GRA. The discovery of oil in Uganda presents an opportunity for the country to promote the common good for the benefit of the citizens especially the over 7.5 million Ugandans who have remained trapped in abject poverty for decades. The efforts of the government and companies have helped to open community roads, build pipelines, a refinery and other developments. If well used, they will translate oil into billions of revenues for equitable development. Oil belongs to all Ugandans. Host communities beginning with the over 7,118 women, children and men of Kabaale parish-Hoima district who are being displaced to create space for the construction of an oil refinery must be given timely and adequate compensation and resettlement to respect their social, economic and environmental rights.
[click to view]

Meta information
Contributor:Enanga Observatory: www.enanga.org
Last update18/08/2019
Conflict ID:1579
Comments
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