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The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, presided over the transfer of 105 resettlement homes and land titles to Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in Buliisa District as part of the Tilenga Project and emphasized the government’s commitment to sustainable development and the well-being of affected populations.

On Monday 12^th June 2023 was the start of the transfer of 105 resettlement homes and titles to Project Affected Persons (PAPs), or individuals whose primary residence was impacted during the identification of land for the construction of the Tilenga Project facilities and associated infrastructure in Buliisa District. This was done in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

The 105 homes, which will be erected as part of the 205 homes total, will have 2, 3, or 4 bedrooms (depending on the size of the original building), a sitting space, a veranda, an outdoor kitchen, a solar-powered system, a 5,000-liter rainwater harvesting tank, and a VIP latrine.

The buildings are situated on plots of land that the affected households have chosen, and they are built to survive for at least 25 years before major renovations are necessary. The remaining 100 homes will be finished and handed over by the end of August 2023.

Total Energies EP Uganda has helped all recipient households obtain free-hold land titles, and they are all supported throughout the relocation and acclimatisation process, including participation in the different livelihood restoration programmes. Additionally, they received psychosocial and transitional support. Joint spousal participation is emphasised specifically throughout the entire process as well.

Mr. Philippe Groueix, General Manager of Total Energies EP Uganda, gave a speech at the handover ceremony, which was held in a Kirama Village in the Kigwera Sub-county of Buliisa District. He said, “The handover we are witnessing today, 12^th June 2023 as well as the activities we are undertaking for livelihood restoration are enshrined in one of our sustainable development pillars focused on people’s well-being. In the end, we would like to help create a good impact and shared value with the project’s affected populations and the local residents where our activities take place.”

Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, presided over the transfer event. She stated that a total of US$12,760,036 was spent on PAP compensation, leaving US$3,911,620 for any unpaid compensation. Additionally, she pushed those who got money to use and invest it profitably.

In the three districts of Buliisa (193), Hoima (40), and Kikuube (2), the Project intends to build a total of 235 replacement homes for Project Affected Persons (PAPs). 130 homes have been finished so far for PAPs throughout all Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), including 30 homes for RAP1 and 100 homes for RAPs 2 through 5. Land titles will be given to all homeowners. Within the three districts, more than 65 sites are now under various stages of building, according to her.

The Minister continued by saying that the government pledged to carry out Uganda’s oil and gas projects while preserving the environment and improving people’s quality of life.

Hon Nankabirwa declared, “We shall sustainably exploit Uganda’s natural resources for social and economic transformation.”

According to Nankabirwa, under RAPs 2-5, 83% of the necessary project land was accessed for the other Tilenga development projects, and 95% (4,695 out of 4,930) of the PAPs were compensated. Despite numerous negotiations and mediation sessions, 10 PAPs have rejected the compensation packages agreed by the Chief Government Valuer, leaving some land parcels unavailable to the project.

Second, despite numerous media advertisements and posters in the neighbourhoods, six PAPs cannot be located or contacted. Third, there are twenty-seven land ownership conflicts among the PAPs.

But she said that her ministry would keep making the necessary arrangements to make sure that all of these land pieces were purchased for the Project in a timely manner. She did, however, issue a warning that the RAP exercise would not be finished until June or July 2023.

Over 270 students from the districts of Buliisa, Nwoya, Pakwach, Masindi, and Nebbi have benefited from the local scholarship programme over its ten-year history, which was also celebrated at the occasion by Total Energies EP Uganda.

The recipients receive assistance in obtaining O-level and A-level education with a focus on science at the best institutions in the nation.

Over 400 wells will be drilled as part of the Tilenga project, which also includes a Central Processing Facility (CPF) with a daily processing capacity of 190,000 barrels of oil. Additionally, the project will feature a 110 km, 24-inch feeder pipeline from the CPF to distribute refined crude to Kabaale, Hoima District. The feeder pipeline sizes must be sufficient to accommodate production tie-ins from upcoming discoveries.