A civil society organization representing the people of Bullisa district has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, saying they have not benefitted from oil exploration activities within the oil rich district.
The voluntary group which represents the Bagungu indigenous people says the ongoing oil development projects in Buliisa district have sidelined the local, leaving minimal benefits from the wealthy resource.
In a petition presented to Kadaga at Parliament on Thursday by a delegation from the Bagungu community, they stated that despite the discoveries of oil in Buliisa and the subsequent economic opportunities that have presented themselves, the district remains least developed and with no representation in government.
The delegation was led by Dr Enoch Bigirwa, the patron of Bagungu Community Association (BACA).
They argue that the district is not on any Board membership of any of the many oil and gas Authorities like Petroleum Authority of Uganda, National Oil Company or the Petroleum and Mineral Organization.
“Whereas we have proven professionals in all spheres, we continue to miss out on appointive positions thus unfairly marginalized,” read part of the petition, adding that “this is very unfair for a district where over 80% of the oil deposits have been discovered”.
Regarding the contentious issue of land acquisition and compensation by government for oil infrastructure, they protest the unfair monetary value proposed by government to project affected persons.
“Government plans to introduce permanent and compulsory land acquisition for multinationals especially Total E&P at a paltry Shs 3.5 million per acre which can not adequately resettle a family on equivalent land acreage anywhere in Uganda,” the group said.
In light of the compensation challenges, the group proposes that government considers leasing land from the locals since oil production is a time bound process. This way, government can use the land for the 40 year period during which the oil deposits in the area will last.
They say government’s processes in regard to oil exploration and development have not been transparent enough, leading to speculators who cheat land owners in anticipation of hefty royalties.
The petitioners also told Kadaga that “there has been no public disclosures of the negative spill over effects “like temperature rises, noise pollution, acid rain, cancers and effects of displacements that come with oil production.
“Government has instead preferred to emphasize the purported economic boom and job creation that will come as a result of oil exploration,” they say.
They demand that Total E&P honors its international obligations in regard to its oil operations in Buliisa, short of which they threaten to take legal action for a fair deal for the communities in the oil region.