A group of religious leaders under their umbrella body, the Green Faith Organization that is focussed on environmental advocacy, have decried delayed compensation of the people who have been displaced or the Project Affected Persons, in respect of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), the Kingfisher and Tilenga projects.

The clergymen, who addressed journalists in Kampala also raised concern about issues to do with environmental protection, which they claims have not been given priority in the oil exploration projects straddling the Bunyoro, Acholi and West Nile regions.

 According to information from the East African Crude Oil pipeline (EACOP) at least 2,502 Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in Uganda have been compensated, representing (69%) while 8,754 PAPs equivalent to (92%) have been compensated in Tanzania.  All these were displaced by the pipeline project.

However, some of the Project Affected Persons have refuted the government compensation figures, saying most people are yet to receive compensation while others are still complaining citing under valuation of their properties.

The Rev. Fred Musimenta, a resident of Kikuube district is among the aggrieved affected persons who are yet to receive compensation. He claimed that the EACOP management is now transferring their land titles into the company’s name before they are adequately compensated.

Clergymen under Green Faith organization that brings together leaders from Islam and diverse Christian denominations in Uganda concerned with environmental advocacy, have expressed displeasure with the way Uganda’s flagship oil projects, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Kingfisher and Tilenga projects, are being executed.

The Rev. Barold Matovu from Sembabule district urged the government to listen to the grievances of the project affected persons and address them.  He claimed that some government officials are instead intimidating whoever complains over delayed and under compensation.

The 1,443km East African Crude Oil Pipeline will transport Uganda’s crude oil from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga port in Tanzania. A total of 13,158 persons have been affected and 11,140 (85%) have been compensated. Green Faith is concerned that matters of the environment have not been given serious attention in the project execution.

The Chief Legal and Corporate Officer of the Uganda National Oil Company- UNOC Peter Muriisa admitted that they have so far compensated 64% of the project Affected persons because they were affected by the Ebola travel restrictions in districts where the pipeline passes. He pledged that all the remaining PAPs will be compensated before the end of March 2023.