With the campaign season for presidential candidates already underway, many have resorted to unsubstantiated claims during their tours across the country. In the Bunyoro subregion, several opposition politicians have made statements about the oil and gas sector that have since been disproved with official facts and verified data.
Here’s a closer look at what was said — and what the truth actually is.
Land Compensation and Grabbing Claims
During campaign stops in Kikuube, Hoima, Kakumiro, and Buliisa, opposition leaders Robert Kyagulanyi (NUP) and Gen. Mugisha Muntu (ANT) alleged that locals were being evicted from their land and not compensated fairly for oil developments.
However, government agencies and the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) confirmed that over 99% of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) under the Tilenga and EACOP projects — and 100% under the Kingfisher project — have been compensated in line with verified valuations by theChief Government Valuer.
All compensation lists were made public and grievance committees established in each district to resolve disputes.
In addition, livelihood restoration programs are ongoing to help affected households rebuild. In Kikuube and Buliisa, farmers have received livestock, improved seedlings, and training in small business and financial literacy.
Environmental and Conservation Concerns
While addressing rallies in Hoima and nearby towns, Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) claimed that oil projects were destroying wetlands, forests, and national parks in the Albertine region.
But according to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and PAU, all oil activities are subjected to strict Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) before approval. Sensitive sections of the EACOP pipeline were rerouted to avoid wetlands and wildlife habitats.
Oil companies, including TotalEnergies EP Uganda (TEPU) and CNOOC, have also established biodiversity offset, ecological restoration, and community conservation programs to protect affected ecosystems.
Jobs and Local Employment
During a meeting in Hoima, FDC’s Nathan Nandala Mafabi** argued that oil jobs were being taken by foreigners while locals remained unemployed.
Official data, however, shows that out of 17,000 workers employed in the ongoing oil projects, 89% are Ugandans, and nearly 5,000 are from host communities.
Over 14,000 Ugandans have received specialized training in welding, health and safety, machinery operation, and construction, enabling them to participate in the industry.
Local content programs have also awarded contracts worth over USD 2.1 billion to Ugandan companies. Supplier development platforms have trained nearly 6,000 local business participants and supported 5 joint ventures to boost skills and technology transfer.
Revenue Sharing and Community Benefits
Both Kyagulanyi and Mafabi have repeatedly claimed that oil revenues will only benefit Kampala while leaving Bunyoro behind.
Under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs), however, oil-producing districts are entitled to 6% of royalties, while 1% goes to cultural institutions such as the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom.
These funds are earmarked for infrastructure projects like schools, health centers, and water systems in host communities.
Transparency and Accountability
Several opposition candidates have claimed that the oil sector is full of corruption and “secret deals.”
Yet Uganda joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2020, and has since published three national reports detailing payments made by oil companies and how revenues are managed through the Petroleum Fund.
The reports are publicly available and reviewed by a Multi-Stakeholder Group composed of government, civil society, and private-sector representatives.
Roads and Regional Development
At his rallies in Hoima and other parts of Bunyoro, Robert Kyagulanyi also accused the government of neglecting the region, claiming that roads remain in poor condition despite oil wealth.
However, official figures show that more than 700 kilometers of new and upgraded roads** have already been constructed to support oil development. Projects like Kabalega International Airport, new markets, schools, and hospitals are also underway as part of the government’s infrastructure investment in the region.
The Bigger Picture
While campaign rhetoric continues to dominate the political season, most of the claims made in Bunyoro about oil and gas have been found to be misleading or inaccurate.
Government agencies, regulators, and oil companies have provided verifiable data showing progress in compensation, environmental protection, job creation, and local development.
As campaigns intensify, Ugandans are being encouraged to scrutinize political statements and rely on facts rather than rhetoric when evaluating the country’s progress in the oil and gas sector.
