KIKUUBE– At least 56 project-affected persons [ PAPs ] in Buhuka Parish in Kyngwali Sub-county, Kikuube district have received modern houses after they relocated from the land earmarked for oil activities in the Albertine Graben, western Uganda.
The beneficiaries are part of the 700 people who were affected as Chain National offshore Oil Company [CNOOC] acquired 700 acres of land for the Kingfisher oil development project.
Kingfisher field development area is spread over approximately 344 square kilometres in the Lake Albert Rift Basin in western Uganda.
Each of the houses comprises three bedrooms, a sitting room, kitchen, water tank and sanitary facility among others. The construction of the houses was funded by CNOOC as compensation for those who opted for relocation.
The vice president of CNOOC, Peixin Ma said that they have already acquired 99 percent of the required land, adding that the remaining 1 percent of the land is for the absent landlords who they would wish to compensate but they are nowhere to be seen.
The beneficiaries were affected as the company acquired land for the development of the Kingfisher oil fields, especially to develop; a central processing facility, drilling camps, well pads, infield flow lines, spoil areas, access roads safety buffers around project facilities, and the feeder pipeline.
Ma said that they are ready to comply with international practices in regard to the environment, human rights protection, and promoting local content where local companies are given small oil contracts.
He added that the company is also giving corporate social responsibility by supporting education and health sectors, and supporting the project PAPs livelihood projects, and financial literacy training among others.
Speaking during the handover ceremony of the houses to the beneficiaries, Peter Lokeris, the State Minister for Minerals said the compensation process is part of the many projects being implemented since the government and oil companies TotalEnergies EP Uganda, CNOOC Uganda Limited signed the final investment decision [FID] to unlock oil activities that should make the country produce its first oil by 2025.
The FID announcement in February 2022, signified the commitment of the oil companies to invest close to US$ 10 billion to develop Uganda’s oil and gas resources through the implementation of the Tilenga Project in Buliisa and Nwoya districts; the Kingfisher Project in Hoima and Kikuube Districts [approximately US$6-8bn]; and, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline [EACOP] that will cross the 10 districts of Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Kyankwanzi, Gomba, Mubende, Lwengo, Sembabule, Kyotera and Rakai in Uganda.
Lokeris said the government would continue supporting oil companies to see that they achieve this dream.
He described the construction of the housing units for the beneficiaries as an achievement and called on local persons to get prepared by engaging in production to be able to benefit from the sector.
He noted that many induced services such as banking, health, security and accommodations, and food supply are some of the ring-fenced opportunities for Ugandans that citizens should prepare for.
The Minister also called for proper planning of the urban center in the Albertine region to be in line with the development goals.
He said that because of oil activities, an influx of people is expected in the region and this requires the local government to plan for such a population. He noted if this population is not properly planned for as required the area will turn into a slum area.
Ali Sekatawa, the legal officer at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda [PAU] commended the CNOOC for being transparent during the compensation of the PAPs.
He noted that the acquisition of land from 700 PAPs was fair and adequate, adding this has seen the compensation process ending undisputed.
Peter Banura, the Kikuube district Chairman said that as leaders, they are happy about the progress of the oil developments.
He noted the construction of the road and other oil and gas developments are changing the lives of the people in the area. He commended CNOOC for always listening to the voices of the local people, adding that this gesture is a signal that the oil and gas developments are a blessing to the country.
However, Banufra called for the continued consideration of the local content to ensure that local people get employment in the oil sector.
Okumu Ramunjarusene, one of the beneficiaries, said that he has been living in a mud and wattle house, adding that he was happy to get a house he had never dreamt of.
He said he was happy that people made their choices in the relocation processes as some PAPs opted for cash compensation while others opted for relocation to a place where they would be built houses.
On top of houses, he added that CNOOC further offered them livelihood alternatives such as fish farming and poultry keeping among others, adding that the initiative is going to change their lives.
https://thecooperator.news/oil-companies-take-over-land-for-absentee-landlords-in-bunyoro/
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