WOMEN IN OIL HOST COMMUNITIES URGED TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS

Thursday, August 15th, 2024 | By

Women affected by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) have been urged to take part in efforts aimed at mitigating effects of climate change in the wake of oil developments.

While meeting women affected by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) from Hoima, Kikuube and Buliisa districts, Frank Muramuzi, the Executive Director for National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) said oil projects and other related infrastructure like the roads, pipelines and the airport have already increased ecosystems depletion which will accelerate climate disasters.

Muramuzi urged women to plant trees, embrace energy saving initiatives like making charcoal briquettes and energy saving stoves to reduce on tree cutting.

During the meeting, the women from the districts of Buliisa, Hoima and Kikuube districts said they are already experiencing poor harvests and water scarcity which they attribute to oil and gas developments.

“The last agricultural season was characterized with poor harvests with communities specifically in Kabaale Sub County affected by the long dry spell which surfaced at a time people expected more rains after planting crops. Our soils no longer hold water for long which we attribute to massive cutting down of trees and destruction of water sources like Bugoma forest and swamps,” said Annet Kasolo, a resident of Kabaale Sub County in Hoima district.

Gorreti Kiiza, a resident of Kadindo cell in Buliisa town council said the area is experiencing floods which affect crops and houses due to massive tree cutting to pave way for oil and gas infrastructure.

“Bullisa is currently a beehive of oil and gas activities oil well pads are within people’s residential areas, pipelines and road constructions are everywhere this has led to massive vegetation loss. All this has caused floods which have affected crops leading to food insecurity and also forced displacement,” said Kiiza.

Kiiza further appreciated NAPE for organizing them into Grassroot Women’s Movement to collectively speak up against the challenges they are facing and building resilient communities able to fight for their rights.

STORY COMPILED BY OUR REPORTER