Author: Robert Atuhairwe

TotalEnergies EP Uganda is grappling with accusations of violating Ugandan labour laws and engaging in unfair practices, regarding termination of local staff contracts through employment agencies. A formal complaint has been filed against the French firm, which operates Tilenga Oil Project within Buliisa and Nywoya districts in the north of Lake Albert, alleging breaches of several sections of the Employment Act, 2006. The accusations come as Uganda embarks on the development phase of its oil reserves, estimated at 6.5 billion barrels. The Tilenga and Kingfisher upstream projects, operated by TotalEnergies and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Uganda Limited, the…

Residents of several villages bordering the Bugoma Forest Reserve in Kabaale sub-county, Hoima district, have accused Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom officials of conspiring to give away more forest land.  Despite the Kingdom’s denials, residents claim to have evidence linking officials to the alleged land grab. The affected villages of Zorobi, Ngemwa, Nyakasinini, Nkwanki, and Kigaaga which is alleged to be part of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve, allege that Kingdom officials are working with an Indian investor who plans to establish a sugar mill. Residents reported seeing Kingdom vehicles, accompanied by men in UPDF military attire (presumed to be Kingdom security), surveying the…

On August 2, 2023, more than 20 people embarked on a journey by motor caravan to engage with inspiring farmers, traders, and entrepreneurs along the 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) route. The group traveled from Hoima district, the starting point of the pipeline, through 10 districts affected by EACOP that will ultimately transport crude oil to Tanga Port in Tanzania. While the direct drive would take about 8 hours from Hoima to Masaka City, the caravan made close to a whole day due to several stopovers to learn from local businesses. One such stop was at Nalweyo and…

On December 19, 2024, Hoima City Council passed a resolution to implement the “polluter pays” principle, which mandates that waste producers pay for the disposal of their waste at the dumpsite. The resolution was approved during a council meeting held at Resort Hotel in Hoima City, presided over by its Speaker, Edward Isingoma. Sylvia Nalumaga, the City Deputy Mayor, told The Albertine Journal on January 22, that since the resolution, the city has set specific fees for different categories of waste producers. Residential homes and rental properties will pay sh2,000, supermarkets sh4,000, salons 2,000, and shops sh3,000. Restaurants, clubs, bars,…

Hoima is not a big City, but when Jovia Kiiza, who had last visited five years ago came back in January 2025, she got lost. Gone were the dusty muddy roads, with only a few patched with tarmac. The cows and goats roaming the side streets of the central business district were gone too. Using borrowed funds, the Uganda government constructed neatly paved roads befitting the Hoima Oil City status. The government also constructed infrastructure such as bridges, roads to the oil fields and Hoima International Airport to enable transportation of equipment to establish oil production facilities. Local businesspersons…

People have rushed into the real estate business in the oil-rich Hoima district hoping to reap big from workers attracted by the oil and gas sector and other offshoot industries. As a result, there has been an increase in the prices of construction materials. A mini survey by The Albertine Journal indicates that construction materials prices have risen, some by 50% for the past three years, higher than they were in October 2018. The rise in prices has been attributed to the increased demand due to construction and real estate development since 2019 when oil and gas sector activities peaked again after…

On a fateful night of November 12 in 2024, in Bufuma sub-county, Bududa district, eastern Uganda, landslides swept away homes as terrified villagers scrambled to safety. Among them was Joan Kamoti, 38, clutching her infant as the earth beneath her disintegrated. The disaster buried homes and crops such as maize, cassava, bananas, and coffee, leaving 120 people dead. Flooding on the banks of Rivers Nyamwamba in Kasese and Mpongo in Kakumiro, as well as along Lakes Victoria and Albert, underscores Uganda’s vulnerability to unpredictable weather patterns. Violent rains and severe droughts continue to ravage livelihoods dependent on rain-fed agriculture, painting…

Hundreds of people, mainly the elderly, were screened for various eye-related ailments during a free eye camp held at Kikoboza Primary School in Kyabatalya Parish, Buhimba Sub-county, Kikuube district. The camp, organised to provide free treatment to those suffering from eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and allergies,among others, also aimed to raise awareness about diseases that cause vision loss. In addition to free consultations, the camp offered free eyeglasses and, for those with minor conditions, prescribed eye drops at a subsidised cost. The event was organised by the Itaza Development Foundation in partnership with the Office of the Area…

Residents who are affected by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project, are calling for an immediate halt to its construction. The 1,443-kilometre crude oil export pipeline, which will transport Uganda’s crude oil from Hoima in western Uganda to the Tanga port in Tanzania, has sparked widespread protests due to concerns over land acquisition, environmental degradation, and social impacts. “We want the project stopped immediately to allow adequate time for our grievances to be heard and addressed,” said Joan Kaahwa (not real name), who, along with other over 90 Project Affected Persons (PAPs), protested on December 8, 2024, near…

President Yoweri Museveni has praised the Catholic Church for its efforts in providing youths with not only spiritual guidance but also ideological orientation, which he believes is crucial for Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. He emphasised that this approach is essential for the country to achieve it’s long-term development goals. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the five-day National Youth Conference at St. Andrea Kaahwa College Grounds in the Bujumbura-Hoima Catholic Diocese, Hoima City, on Sunday, Museveni expressed his support for the mentorship of young people. He pointed out that the youth, who represent the majority of the population, are key to…