Author: Robert Atuhairwe

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Uganda Limited, a firm operating Kingfisher oil development area in Kyangwali sub-county, Kikuube district has handed over 56 newly constructed housing units for project affected persons-PAPs. The PAPs are those whose households were affected during land acquisition that was required for the project development ahead of the construction schedule for project infrastructures such as a central processing facility (CPF), drilling camp, well pads, infield flow lines, spoil areas, access roads, safety buffers around project facilities and the feeder pipeline. The visibly elated PAPs received the houses on July 14. The project has implemented four Resettlement Action…

Canvassing for votes to win his third term of office, in 2001, President Yoweri Museveni pledged to establish a public University in Bunyoro sub region. The excitement and expectation was palpable-it would be the first public university in the region, that leaders and citizens alike believed would guarantee people from the region easier access to degree education, and develop the human resource to drive transformation. The pledge was later followed by a resolution of Parliament in 2015 to set up seven public universities, one in Bunyoro. Parliament believed this would equitably expand access to higher education. Museveni would go on…

For the residents of Buliisa district, the past two decades since oil and gas was discovered in the area has brought about significant economic and social transformations to their way of life. The roads, initially constructed to facilitate oil production, have been meticulously paved, and new schools have been established. Oil firm TotalEnergies EP Uganda and its sub-contractors, who are operating the Tilenga oil field, have embraced corporate social responsibility and have been actively implementing resettlement action plans (RAPs). As part of their efforts, they have expanded and revitalised some lower health centres in the region. Roseline Kaahwa, a resident…

TotalEnergies EP Uganda a company contracted by the government to produce Uganda’s oil and gas has enhanced accessibility to improved health services with a donation of an Out-Patient Department (OPD) at Avogera Health Centre III in Ngwedo Sub-County, Buliisa district. The reconstructed facility was handed over to the district officials on Tuesday. The facility which has been reconstructed and equipped as part of the Company’s livelihood restoration activities under the Tilenga Project Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) is aimed at contributing towards the improvement of health care service delivery within the project host communities, the oil firm said in a media…

A tree planting drive along the paved Kigumba-Kyenjojo road meant to conserve the environment and enhance beauty has started. It is being implemented under the Green Right of Way (GROW) programme which is funded by Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). Under this partnership, Bunyoro Think Tank with support from UNRA and Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, will plant 40,000 trees along the 200 kilometres road reserve. The programme which was launched on Saturday at Mparo Royal Tombs in Hoima City, follows months of engagements between Bunyoro Think Tank and UNRA. The arrangement is that Bunyoro Think Tank will be mobilising communities to participate…

Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom has cancelled this year’s Empango-coronation anniversary celebrations citing Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru’s ill health, sources have said. Always marked on June 11, empango is a ritual the Omukama performs as he is enthroned. Iguru first performed these rituals on June 11, 1994 when the kingdom was restored by the current government and since then it has become an annual event. It attracts thousands of subjects from the eight districts of Hoima, Masindi, Kibaale, Kakumiro, Kiryandongo, Buliisa, Kikuube and Kagadi, which constitute the kingdom to attend the function and listen to their king. Various troupes play out-drama, poetry and…

The state minister for lands Sam Mayanja on Thursday rushed to Kabwoya sub-county in Kikuube district after allegations that security tortured and harassed more than 20,000 encroachers who were evicted from the land claimed by Hoima Sugar Limited. The land was offered by Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom in 2016 for 99 years at sh3.9b to cultivate sugar. The allocation which was first contested by the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and ecologists claiming it is part of Bugoma central forest reserve, was given to Hoima Sugar in the 2019 Masindi High court ruling. Subsequently, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) cleared Hoima sugar…

Hoima Sugar Limited continues to be on the spot for ignoring conditions in the Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report during the clearance of trees to pave way for Sugarcane growing in the land, which ecologists allege is part of Bugoma central forest reserve in Kikuube district. Conservationists cite lack of adequate enforcement on the side of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and weak rules as the reason the sugar firm is getting away with such an offence. The ESIA report was meant to ensure the sugar firm addresses potential environmental and social impacts aimed at developing suitable mitigation…

Ronald Aheebwa (not real name) recently secured a contract to supply 80 chickens per week for a 10-month period to feed oil workers in Uganda’s Albertine Graben. However, with only 400 chickens and lacking the resources to expand his business to meet his contractual obligations, he had to forego the opportunity. This situation highlights the challenges faced by many small business owners in the oil-rich Bunyoro sub-region who aspire to participate in the oil and gas industry but lack the necessary capacity to supply goods and services in this capital-intensive sector. One major obstacle for these entrepreneurs is the high…

Livestock farmers in Tonya parish, Buseruka sub-county, Hoima district are counting losses following an outbreak of a strange plague that is killing goats. The infected goats are developing diarrhoea before they become weak and die. Sam Isingoma, an area resident, said he has lost over 90 goats to the strange disease. He says he has lost sh13.5m from 90 goats in case each goat is sold at sh150,000. He suspects that the goats could be dyeing for eating fall armyworms in pasture. Hoima is among the districts that have been hit by the fall army war. The affected areas are…