Uganda Oil Discoveries Fuel Land Disputes and Village Uncertainty

The discovery of oil in Uganda’s Buliisa district, commencing in 2006, has inadvertently ignited complex land ownership disputes, leaving many local communities in a state of uncertainty.

Moses K. Asaba, a resident of Bugana village, expressed deep frustration, stating that the oil discovery has attracted “land-grabbers” to his ancestral land. His concerns are echoed by many who fear losing their homes and livelihoods to development.

French energy giant TotalEnergies E&P is establishing infrastructure for oil production, with an oil well, Ngara, located just a short distance from Asaba’s home. This well has become a symbol of the prolonged land conflict pitting local residents against a businessman, Francis Kahwa, who claims title to over 500 acres.

Government officials, including representatives from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, maintain that the dispute is not with the government. They note that the land in question, where TotalEnergies operates, is subject to ongoing court proceedings regarding outstanding compensation. While assured that oil production will not be delayed, officials confirm that rent payments for the disputed parcels are being held in escrow until the legal battle concludes.

Local leaders question how Kahwa acquired a title deed for such a large tract of land, especially after presidential directives in 2011 to revoke land titles in Buliisa and place land under district land board supervision. Despite these directives and the cancellation of numerous titles, Kahwa successfully obtained a court ruling in 2022 recognizing him as the rightful owner, a decision the community has appealed.

Officials from the Ministry of Lands stated that over 99% of compensation agreements for land acquisition for Total’s project have been signed and paid, with resettlement houses completed. However, the underlying land tenure system in Uganda is acknowledged as “fundamentally distorted,” with overlapping ownership systems contributing to widespread land disputes nationwide, not just in oil-producing regions.

Concerns also extend to the methods of community engagement, with reports suggesting a preference for individual household consultations over community-wide meetings, which some believe weakens the negotiating power of vulnerable landowners. The long-standing land conflicts associated with oil development continue to pose significant challenges for local communities and the oil industry alike.