On Friday, a Ugandan court ruled against dozens of families who claimed they were unfairly compensated for land acquired for a major oil project. This decision comes amidst ongoing controversy surrounding the project’s environmental impact and human rights concerns.
The project, led by French company TotalEnergies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, is estimated to cost $10 billion and has been hailed by President Yoweri Museveni as a significant economic boost for Uganda. However, it has faced fierce opposition from environmental groups and rights activists.
The project has been challenged in French courts and has drawn criticism from the European Parliament due to alleged wrongful imprisonment of environmental activists and inadequate compensation for displaced communities.
In the recent court case, 42 households challenged the level of compensation they received for land used in the project. However, the court ruled in favor of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, rejecting the families’ claims.
Abdul Musinguzi, an activist from the Tasha Africa Research Institute who supported the families, expressed disappointment with the ruling: “The ruling has been in favor of the ministry of energy and mineral development. As per the ruling, no further compensation is due to the project affected persons protesting low compensation.”
The project involves drilling around 400 oil wells within Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected area. Crude oil will be transported along a 1,445-kilometer pipeline to the Tanzanian port of Tanga.
TotalEnergies maintains that displaced communities have been fairly compensated and that environmental protection measures are in place. The government, too, has staunchly defended the project, citing its potential for job creation.
However, some of the affected families feel they have been unfairly treated. One of the plaintiffs, Jealousy Mugisa Mulimba, described the court’s decision as an “ambush.” He stated that the families received only one day to prepare their case and that many were unable to attend the hearing due to financial constraints and illiteracy.
Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, continue to urge a halt to the project, citing potential environmental damage and significant consequences for local communities. Despite these concerns, President Museveni remains determined to move forward with the project, highlighting its economic benefits.
