Women with disabilities organized under Hoima Blind Women Association (HOBWA) are participating in efforts to mitigate climate change and its effects.
Joy Rufunda, the HOBWA Executive Director, says their aim is see 5,000 trees planted by women at their homes and on their land away from home within one year.
Rufunda says the degradation of natural forests and wetlands in favor of human activities like agriculture has contributed to climate change and its effects. She says people with disabilities are the most affected because if accessibility to firewood is hard, they find more trouble compared to the ones without disability.
Joseph Mukama, the PWDs chairperson in Kikuube district council asks women to select eco-friendly tree seedling species like musizi, mvule (musiimbi) and mahogany – the indigenous trees known for their advantage to mitigating climate change in both rain formation and soil conservation for crop production and high yields.
This is contrary to exotic trees like eucalyptus that he says cannot allow intercropping compared to native trees.
Anna Mary Tumusiime, a member of HOBWA, called for tireless and continuous community sensitization about climate change.
Beatrice Aheebwa, the councilor for PWDs in Kapaapi sub-county, Hoima district, is appealing to PWDs to always work hard in spite of their bodily disabilities.
Aheebwa advised that amidst climate change being experienced, people should not only plant trees but also food crops like cassava, maize and beans for their home consumption to avoid food insecurity.
She stressed the members’ positive mindset in mitigating climate change and its effects is key for a desirable environment to live in.
In rural Kapeke Sub County in Kiboga district, Kapeke Women Beekeepers Group has discovered beekeeping as a sweet path to economic independence. The group is fostering their lives, fostering resilience and self-sufficiency while protecting the environment.
Sarah Kamyuka, the group chairperson says beekeeping was initially scary for women but continuous training and learning from Community Green Radio, they have slowly embraced the idea.
“Women feared bees but poverty frightens more. Women have overcome beekeeping anxieties through hands on training and bee keeping programs on radio have motivated many women to start the business. The group started when we were like 10 but we are now over 30 in my community,” said Kamyuka.
To date, the group earns about 2,000,000 Uganda shillings per harvest from sales of honey and created value addition through other bee related products like propolis and candles. The profit is re-invested in production processes to increase their harvest and improve their quality.
Kamyuka says they are also planting indigenous trees to support their beekeeping business and this has contributed towards environmental conservation.
Julius Kyamanywa, the station Manager for Community Green Radio, believes that such projects are helping women to transform their lives at the same time conserving the environment. He applauded the women, who are also members of Kapeke Green Radio listeners club, for embracing such environmental friendly initiatives in sustaining their incomes and conserving the environment.
For years, fishing provided for Constance Nyamisana’s family, but restrictive regulations have crippled her livelihood. Nyamisana, now in her 80’s, has lived in Kaiso fishing village on Lake Albert’s shores. She says her husband; a fisherman would wake before dawn to set out onto the lake. The daily catch would feed their family and provide income to send their children to school. She said her role was to vend fish along the lake which has since reduced due to restrictions to conserve the Lake.
In 2018, the government imposed fishing restrictions to conserve Lake Albert’s dwindling fish stocks. While well-intentioned, the regulations devastated Nyamisana’s community.
Nyamisana is among the many women who are now facing numerous challenges resulting from the restrictions including loss of livelihood, food insecurity and high school dropout which have led to increased gender based violence.
Sylvia Kemigisa, the Chairperson for Kaiso Women Empowerment Agency said the increasing cases of gender based violence prompted them to establish a safe space with support from National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE). The space, according to Kemigisa is helping the police to handle minor cases of gender based violence through mediation, counseling and peace building.
She notes that most of the cases reported are largely affecting women due to loss of livelihood and food insecurity.
Kemigisa says despite these hardships, they remain determined as they have started exploring other alternative sources of income like kitchen gardening, selling handmade crafts and pushing for more inclusive fishing regulations.
Nyamisana, who already has a small garden of egg plants, said the alternative sources of livelihoods are promising. She says she gets market from her community and is able to get enough food for his family.
She calls upon the government to consider the livelihoods of communities in implementing the restrictions.
National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) has been applauded for building the resilience of communities and amplifying the voices of marginalized women to collectively resist the negative impacts of oil and gas extractives in the Albertine women.
During the meeting of women organized under Grassroots Women Movement, which is coordinated by NAPE, the women appreciated NAPE for organizing them into groups and empowering them to know their rights.
“We were not able to speak up while the government was poorly compensating us for the land they took for Kaiso-Tonya road. But when NAPE came in, they sensitized us on the importance of speaking up and resisting injustice collectively. We formed Kaiso Women’s Group and have since advocated for women’s rights,” said Sylvia Kemigisa, a resident of Kaiso fishing village in Kabaale Sub county, Hoima district.
Daisy Kwikiriza, the Chairperson of Buliisa United Women with Disability, appreciated NAPE for specifically amplifying the voices of women with disabilities that were for long been left out amidst human rights violations caused by oil and gas industry.
“Women with disabilities are discriminated in our society and because of that, I used to fear speaking in public due to my disability but NAPE built my confident and supported us to form a group of women with disabilities which I am now heading. I thank NAPE for inclusive programs where women with disabilities are considered and respected. I now know my rights and I have taken a mantle of empowering other women with disabilities,” said Kwikiriza.
The women also appreciated NAPE for supporting them with social and economic empowerment programs.
“NAPE has given us safe spaces aimed at minimizing gender based violence cases caused by oil and gas developments. We are not only handling cases reported by women but also men who feel violated by women,” said Lucy Mbuubi, a resident of Butimba in Kikuube district.
“NAPE has helped to amplify our voices through Community Green Radio. We are organized into listeners clubs and we go to the radio often to talk about issues affecting us. This is in addition to other good programs including environmental conservation initiatives, trainings on women’s rights and economic empowerment and also safe spaces to end gender based violence in our communities,” said Beatrice Rukanyanga, the Chairperson Kwataniza Women Group.
The NAPE Board Chairperson, Ephraim Niwagaba Lemmy, appreciated NAPE’s efforts in empowering communities and amplifying their voices. He also appreciated the women leaders for committing to voluntary work in ensuring that women are organized in groups and stay together.
“I am happy that NAPE work is felt on ground. I also thank the women leaders for mobilizing their fellow women and bringing them together to fight for their rights. I am happy that your groups have withstood the threats and intimidations in pushing for women’s rights,” said Niwagaba.
Frank Muramuzi, the NAPE Executive Director said the organization is committed to building resilient communities that can engage the status quo with regard to human and environmental rights abuse. He appreciated communities for making it possible.
The rapid growth of extractive industry in Uganda’s Albertine graben is at the same time rapidly affecting the ecosystems. The activities of oil companies have displaced the fertile farmlands and green vegetation making agriculture increasingly unviable to the host communities.
In Hoima’s Kabaale Sub County where oil refinery is set to be constructed and where the East African Crude Oil Pipeline begins, it is visibly seen that the community land, rivers and ecosystems are being violated by extractive activities at an alarming rate with the construction of Kabaale International Airport, EACOP and expansion of Kizirafumbi-Kabaale oil road in addition to increase.
But raged against this is a network of small holder farmers who are rising against the destruction of natural resources. By reducing the amount of fertile land and destroying the ecosystems they heavily depend on for agriculture, the host communities are already envisaging reduction of capacity for food production and denying them hope of food sovereignty; which they are resisting.
A few kilometers from the oil refinery area, women small holder farmers organized under Tugarre Ebyobuhangwa women’s group literally meaning ‘Lets save the environment’ have been battling with the leaders and oil companies over the massive destruction of indigenous trees as a result of oil activities.
They accuse the government of fronting the needs of oil companies at the expense of community needs.
“Our group petitioned Hoima district local government over massive destruction of our natural resources due to infrastructural development for the oil industry like roads. We demanded that government should replace the indigenous trees that have been cut down due to oil activities, protect the communities’ land by issuing land titles and also protect the buffer zones of water bodies,” said Annet Kasolo the group chairperson.
Kasolo says the petition has yielded results. “After the petition, the government is now distributing indigenous trees to farmers to promote agro ecology. So far, I have already received over 1000 indigenous tree species from Hoima district local government and SBC Company that is working on airport construction. The government has also promised to issue land certificates and people are currently being evicted from the buffer zones near major streams in this area and swamps,” said Kasolo.
The residents living along the East Africa Crude Oil pipeline say they have witnessed massive environmental destruction which they attribute to drying up of water sources in the area.
In Kigaaga village, which is in the outskirts of the refinery area and also affected by EACOP, women under Kigaaga Oil Refinery Women Development Association (KORECWODA) are engaged in establishment of indigenous tree nurseries to reforest the area currently destructed by oil developments.
Penina Ruhindi, the group chairperson says over 2,000 indigenous seeds have so far been distributed and planted by community members especially those along the EACOP.
According to the farmers, the continued forest destruction has contributed to change in seasons, which is already affecting farmers. Jesca Buteraba, a member of Butimba Sustainability Conservation Association (BUSUCA) says the farmers are already affected by the long dry spells and heavy rain fall which has threatened food security. According to Buteraba indigenous seeds still prove to be resistant to climate change effects and promoting them would promote food security.
Women are generally the primary custodians of seed diversity and wild biodiversity and therefore play a critical role in maintaining the health and resilience of local ecosystems. She says they are using traditional approaches of indigenous seed storage and multiplication to ensure that the seeds are protected.
Experts warn of looming scarcity
According to a report quoted by The Daily Monitor on August 17, 2023, a rapidly growing population and expanding human and industrial activities have led to significant strain on both underground and surface water sources in the Albertine Graben.
Despite threats and intimidation from oil companies, Rev. Fred Musiimenta successfully won the battle of fair compensation for his land acquired for East African Crude Oil pipeline (EACOP) after 6 years of protesting.
Rev. Musiimenta, a project affected person from Butimba village in Kikuube district says he received his long-awaited revised compensation in August last year after declining to sign what he termed as unfair compensation.
“When they realized that I was determined, they went silent on my demands; the compensation delayed for years. They knew this would make me bow to little compensation but I kept my stand. They later agreed to revise my rates,” said Musiimenta who could not divulge the details of how much he received.
The project affected 3,648 people in Uganda and Kikuube alone has 390 affected people. But according to Rev. Musiimenta, only 4 declined to sign for little pay until the compensation was revised.
The EACOP land acquisition process was overwhelmed by threats and intimidation from Total Energies and its sub contactors according to Musiimenta and as a result many people were intimidated to sign for unfair compensation.
“The officials could say if you don’t sign for your compensation, your money will be taken to court, you will not win the case against the government and given the expensive nature of corrupt courts in Uganda the residents could not afford the court stress,” he said.
He also narrated that others were tricked into accepting what they now realize as inadequate compensation for their land.
“They would tell them that everyone had already accepted the money and it’s only you remaining and many people ended up signing,” he said
He explained that they petitioned the government in 2021 disputing the compensation rates that were used to define the value of their properties which were not in any way equivalent to the accumulating land prices in the area.
“The government together with oil companies was using the evaluation rates for 2018/2019. When we petitioned, they started threatening us, we kept our stand. We told them to review the rates or take our land on lease terms,” said Rev. Musiimenta.
Rev. Fred Musiimenta, who is the chairperson of Butimba Sustainability Conservation Association (BUSUCA), attributed the success to empowerment and capacity building gained from National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE).
“NAPE has sensitized us on our rights and how to fight for it. That’s why I have successfully demanded for what rightfully belongs to me,” he said.
In what he termed as an indirect land grabbing, Rev. Musiimenta says the oil companies and government were frustrating the host communities with unfair compensation, loss of livelihoods and difficulty in accessing land titles.
He said these coupled with high standards of living will technically knock the poor out of the area and leave the government and the rich in full control of the resources.
He, however, says his group has teamed up to support each other to ensure that the local people get land titles. He said the only hope for the local communities to fight land grabbing is having land titles.
The livelihoods of some of the people affected by oil feeder pipeline from Kingfisher Oil Field Buhuka in Kikuube district to connect to East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Kabaale, Hoima district remain hopelss as they wait for livelihood restoration program as promised by the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Uganda.
The residents say they oil company officials promised to improve the livelihoods and standard of living of the affected people through livelihood restoration program.
“During evaluation, CNOOC officials promised to take our children back to school, give us agriculture inputs and give us food for a certain period. I was expecting them to take to vocational institutions some of my children who have since dropped out of school. They (oil company officials) even asked us to submit the names of those that need to go to institutions. But nothing has happened. The situation is instead getting worse because the compensation was delayed and little,” said a 36-year-old Statumah Barondemu, a resident of Kitegwa B village in Kabaale Sub County in Hoima district.
Barondemu, who received cash compensation after her land was taken, said they promised livelihood restoration to come immediately after land acquisition is complete but it’s now 6 years of waiting. She said she was food self-sufficient prior to losing her land but was forced to start from scratch and routinely buy food.
According to Petroleum Authority of Uganda, the process of livelihood program activities in agriculture improvement, business and vocational trainings for 680 persons commenced in May 2021.
However, the affected residents say efforts to reach out to relevant officials to follow up on the promises has yielded no results as they don’t pick up or even return calls.
Mary Nyambubi, of the affected person who was selected to handle grievances accruing from the land acquisition process in Kitegwa B in Kabaale Sub County says most of the complaints she registers are related to declining income and lack of food due to displacements. She said she has tried to follow up in vain.
“When I was handed over the house, they promised to take care of my family by giving us food packages and agricultural inputs for a certain period of time, put some of my children in vocational institutions but nothing has happened,” said Nyambubi a mother of two.
The Livelihood Restoration Program is included in the government approved Resettlement Action Plan and includes various options for restoration and enhancement of livelihoods including training for improved agricultural production, financial literacy training and vocational training.
However, the program seems to be having challenges in restoring livelihoods and is instead impacting on various rights like rights to food, education and health. According to residents, there was also lack of clearly communicated timelines to project affected people on when these needed livelihood support would be provided.
Speaking to our reporter, Amiina Bukenya, the manager of Media and Publicity at CNOOC Uganda said different forms of livelihood restoration programs have been given depending on Environment and Social Impact Assessment and is being done in phases. She said some affected people have been given financial literacy trainings depending on the need.
“Most of the affected area is dry so we considered giving people trainings and access to clean safe water. Others will be supported in piggery and vocational trainings which are being provided in phases,” said Bukenya.
But affected residents like Nyambubi say whereas they indeed benefited from the financial literacy trainings and urged to mobilize groups, this was not sufficient enough to address the dwindling income of the affected people. She urges them to evaluate the livelihood restoration program to identify and address the gaps within the program if they want it to serve its purpose.
By Precious Naturinda
“I ignorantly signed the documents consenting to free takeover of my land,” narrates a 50 year old Beatrice Nyamahunge from Buliisa district. “When oil officials came in 2021, they told me to sign on the forms as a resident adjacent to the feeder oil pipeline route. Later, I realized that I had signed not to be compensated for my land acquired for 200 meter buffer zone from the feeder pipeline,” regrettably recalls Nyamahunge, a resident of Kigoya parish in Buliisa Sub County.
Figure 1: consent form with a disclaimer not to be compensated signed by Nyamahunge and her family
Nyamahunge is one of the people impacted by oil activities on their land without free, prior and informed consent. She is among the 1,846 people affected by the feeder oil pipeline from Buliisa district to Hoima under Tilenga project implemented by Total Energies.
Figure 2: Nyamahunge showing a form she ignorantly signed
Whereas oil companies are supposed to ensure appropriate disclosure of information, consultation and informed participation of those affected including host communities in decision making for land acquisition processes before written consent form the land owners, this was not the case.
“When they oil officials came to my village, they told me to mobilize people adjacent to the feeder pipeline to just sign the documents. They did not give us time to understand and interpret the documents since they were in English so many people signed ignorantly agreeing not to be compensated for the 200 meter buffer zone from the feeder pipeline. When they came back (oil officials), they told us not to construct permanent structures on those 200 meters or to grow perennial crops,” explained the Kigoya village Chairperson, Melick Asiimwe.
The oil and gas industry is rapidly growing in Uganda’s Albertine Graben since the discovery of commercial oil wells in 2006. The oil and gas sector is now at development phase in preparation of production of petroleum resources and this has seen development of oil projects including Tilenga project, Kingfisher oil project, the East African Crude oil Pipeline, the Central processing facilities and feeder pipelines, Kaabale industrial park and the Hoima-Kampala Petroleum Products Pipeline. Having hit a snag in securing financing for the East African crude pipeline since 2020, the developers and Ugandan government through the mister of energy and the petroleum authority on 30th August 2023, reported plans of Kick starting EACOP construction in the First Quarter of 2024 but this has not started due to financing challenges mainly from European Banks. The Hope was Exim bank of china but for now over a year, the deal hasn’t secured a break through as per Reports of June 17th 2024. NAPE and collaborating groups still maintain a case in the French courts against Total Energies for violating the French Duty of vigilance Law by abusing human, land and environmental rights of the Oil host communities.
Its worthy noting that with the abuse of the internationally acclaimed principle of free, prior and informed consent before taking possession of the land by government and transnational oil and gas companies, the affected people have been exposed to uncertainty after being displaced without being compensated.
Alice Kazimura, a community councilor and local activist in Buliisa district says the local leaders have not come out to address the challenges. “The local government leaders have instead dined with the oil companies and left the affected communities to suffer. Those who try to raise their voices are seen to be sabotaging government programs and are threatened with arrests,” says Alice Kazimura.
Standing still, deepening resistance in the face of land injustices
In spite of this violent reality, National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) is working with communities to deepen resistance to land injustices and defend their land rights. NAPE engages affected people like Nyamahunge to stand firm and fight for their rights.
Through sustainability school program that builds a critical mass to find solutions to the challenges affecting the communities and holding leaders accountable, grassroots women’s movement that is building the collective power of women and the Community Green Radio that amplifies the voices of communities, NAPE is empowering the communities to build solidarity and lead the defense of their land and their environment confidently.
Judith Beroirwoth, a member of the women’s movement and another feeder pipeline affected person from Ngwedo in Buliisa district refused to sign the documents giving away her land for 200 meter buffer zone. “NAPE has sensitized us to speak up so I refused to sign and demanded for an interpretation of those documents to the language I understand. I also mobilized members of my group- Tufanye Pa Moja Women’s group not to sign,” said the 41 year old mother of 4.
Figure 3: Judith Beroirwoth resited forced evictions
Is it paying off??
The resistance by Beroirwoth and others who have refused to sign seems to be yielding results.
Chris Ocowun, the Public Relations Officer for Total Energies says Oil Company together with the government has decided to compensate people for the 200 meter buffer zone. He says they are currently surveying the land and the affected people will be compensated.
“Initiatially, were had no plans of compensating for the buffer zone, which we call orphan land. But now we are assessing the land and the government surveyor is processing the compensation for the owners of the land,” said Ocowun in a phone interview with this website.
Lucy Mbuubi, a member of Butimba sustainability school on Kikuube district who is also affected by EACOP said the sustainability school has helped communities to indentify issues affecting them in their community and work together to find solutions as they hold their leaders accountable. “NAPE has empowered us and built our confidence. We have been able to stand in solidarity and resist unfair compensation by EACOP,” said Lucy Mbuubi.
The communities are also using NAPE’s Community Green Radio to raise their voices, address reported issues, organize and build consciousness about the exploitation of natural resources and injustices. They are building collective knowledge and crafting strategies that respond to their needs.
“At first, people used to just sign forms without reading the details but the Community Green Radio has played a big role of sensitizing the communities about their land rights and advocating for fair compensation for people affected by the Hoima-Kampala Petroleum Products Pipeline. Through forming listeners clubs and engaging in NAPE-initiated exchange visits with other oil projects affected communities in Hoima and Kikuube, we have been able to learn more about resisting poor compensation and emphasizing on interpretation of the documents before we sign,” said Asuman Ssembatya, from Kyankwanzi district.
When contacted, Rajab Bwengye, the coordinator of projects at NAPE said when communities are empowered and sensitized about their rights; they are able to fight for their rights from an informed point of view noting that it’s a shame and criminal for Oil companies to leave their home countries to come and displace communities, steal their land, create food insecurity ,degrade ecosystems and above all connive with corrupt leaders and security agencies to arrest oil host communities pointing the case of Stephen Kwikiriza a resident of Kyagwali sub county the location of the kingfisher oil field who was kidnapped on June 4th and disappeared only to appear seriously abused and abandoned on the road site in kyenjojo district.
Rajab further emphasized that it’s “an empty dream” for the Ugandan government and any other country promoting dirty energy fossils in the present era to think of ever achieving almost all the 17 United Nations sustainable Development Goals noting that with investment in dirty energy , SDGS of 1 No poverty , 2- Zero Hunger, 3 -Good Health and Wellbeing,5 -Gender Equality, 6 -Clean Water and Sanitation 7 -Affordable Glean Energy 10- Reduced Inequalities 11-Sustainble cities and communities , 12-Climate Action 15- Life on Land ,will never ever be realized” thus calling on civil society activists across the globe to unite against Oil corporates and their financiers.
He said NAPE will continue to empower and build a “critical mass” through “grass root Movement building” that is opposed to dirty fossils and is able to defend community rights in the face of human and land injustices exacerbated by oil and gas extraction in Uganda.
ENDS//
The National Association of professional Environmentalists (NAPE) is calling on government to adopt the ecofeminist approach to advance successful climate actions.
On March, 28 2024, NAPE and partners working on Gender and Climate Change coalition under French Embassy supported PISCCA project ‘For an Intergenerational and Creative Feminist Movement in Uganda’ crowned the women’s month with the launch of a research study titled: Feminist analysis of the impacts of climate change on women’s rights in Uganda.
The research that highlights police gaps in Uganda laws meant to address climate change impacts and suggests recommendations, was launched at Fairway Hotel in Kampala.
According to the research conducted, about 85% of women in Uganda depend on use of land for livelihood and food for production for their families. 75% of women are smallholder farmers dependent on rain-fed agriculture and climate-sensitive resources. And given the nature of poverty and various systematic power imbalances, climate change effects are bound to continue causing bigger crisis for women.
Some of the key findings of the research were that women and girls are the most vulnerable social group to impacts of climate change yet they are under-represented in decision-making bodies. ‘In Uganda, for example, majority of women continue to be excluded from political, policy and decision-making roles; and in instances where they are included, systemic hindrances related to power and control continue to prevail -this leads to lack of voices for the climate change most impacted communities, ‘according to the research.
The research recognizes women as the most effective agents of change since they have in-depth knowledge of the territories that have been the source of their livelihoods for generations. It also notes that the key existing policy frameworks are failing to achieve effective climate action.
Following the research, NAPE recommends a feminist approach to climate justice that challenges unequal power relations based on gender; and advocates for strategies that address the root causes of inequality, transform power relations and promote women’s rights.
It calls on the government to adopt solutions that prioritize the needs and voices of the ost vulnerable, marginalized and neglected communities and climate change solutions that take into account the specific needs and indigenous knowledge of local communities.
It calls on government to recognize and support women as lead agents of addressing climate change impacts
It also calls on the government to revise and adopt policy frameworks that reverse the current intersecting injustices and work towards integrating gender within the intersecting policies of different ministries.
During the launch, Christine Kaaya- the Kiboga Woman Member of Parliament and the shadow minister for water and environment applauded NAPE for taking on the mantle of fighting for climate justice with a feminist approach. She also appreciated NAPE for establishing a community radio in Kiboga which is helping in amplifying the voices in environmental conservation and especially for women.
She said the solutions to climate change should be designed on a feminist lens from grassroots and is happy that NAPE has come up with the study. She noted that climate act does not have regulations to effect its implementation and that parliament plans to have them in the coming financial year.
Joan Akiiza, the Senior Program Officer Gender and Legal Affairs at NAPE said the organization and its partners including Fridays for Future Uganda, Girls for Climate Action and Simma Africa Foundation for creative arts conducted a research after realizing that women are missing in climate change solutions despite government’s efforts to put regulations and policies in place.
She said there is need to ensure that women and girls affected by climate change have increased decision over their natural resources and climate change solutions and promoting a strong feminist movement right from grassroots to promote gender justice.
The research can be found on https://nape.or.ug/download/nape_feminist-analysis-of-the-impacts-of-climate-change-on-womens-rights-in-uganda/
While she was growing up, Vastina Tumwebaze’s major source of water for domestic use was Kanywabarogo riverline stream. The 60-year-old resident of Kigaaaga B cell in Kabaale sub county, located in the neighborhood of the Uganda’s oil refinery land and Kabaale International airport, in Hoima district narrates that the stream had very clean water flowing from Wambyabya forest to Bugoma central forest reserve.
But the major challenge was that the stream was being used by domestic animals as well. So government constructed protected water sources within the community to improve on water hygiene and the quality of water sources.
“When Kigaaga primary school was constructed in 1996, the government and other well wishers constructed a spring well which we nicknamed Enda Etahurra Bigambo to serve the school children and the neighboring communities. About 5 more water sources have since been constructed as the population grows,” she explains.
However, Tumwebaze says currently that the water sources have started drying up attributing it to oil and gas extractive activities which have escalated massive environmental destruction.
“Two wells including Enda Etahurra Bigambo have dried up completely and for others, it takes like an hour to fill a jerrycan because the water drips. For Kanywabarogo river line, the water levels have reduced. This problem started happening when they started constructing the oil roads and cutting down trees,” said Tumwebaze
Joram Basiima, one of the residents affected by the construction of Kiziranfumbi-Kabaale oil road also shares the same story.
“During wet season, I would hear water in my pit latrine but that stopped when they constructed the road that left me meters high,” he said.
The 25.7km Kabaale-Kizirafumbi road is among the critical roads which have been constructed by Uganda National Roads Authority to facilitate the production of petroleum in the Albertine Graben.
According to Basiima, the few existing water sources have been put on pressure by the influx of people in the area since it is near Uganda’s source of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, the international airport and the oil refinery. He says this has forced people to trek long distances in search of water.
Experts warn of looming scarcity
According to a report quoted by The Daily Monitor on August 17, 2023, a rapidly growing population and expanding human and industrial activities have led to significant strain on both underground and surface water sources in the Albertine Graben.
The report conducted in 2023 by Zutari, a firm contracted by the Ministry of Water and Environment predicts that by 2040, certain sub-zones in the region will have deficits in both underground water and surface water. The paper quotes Dr. Seith Mugume saying, “The aggregate demand for water is projected to surge to 6.55 million cubic metres per day by 2040 due to population growth and other factors. The emergence of oil activities has further intensified the demand for ground water which, during the peak, is 43,000 cubic metres per day.”
The report further says that the heightened demand coupled with environmental degradation is expected to lead to balance deficits.
Community putting up a fight
To combat the challenge, the affected communities have started to conserve the environment and protect threatened water bodies.
The women in Hoima district are leading campaigns against Bugoma forest give away for sugarcane growing and taking actions to plant trees along the deforested areas.
“Bugoma forest, which we believe to be the source of water in area, has been given away for sugarcane growing. This mean as communities we should not sit and watch. We are fighting back,” said Mbabazi Adah one of the community activists under The Save Bugoma Forest Campaign.
A group of women in Kigaaga organized under Kigaaga Oil Refinery Women Development Association (KORECWODA) say they have stepped up efforts to plant indigenous trees to conserve the environment and ensure sustainable agriculture ahead of oil boom.
Penina Ruhindi, the group chairperson says the group is engaged in raising and distributing indigenous tree seedlings to communities; and also monitor and supervise those who receive the seedlings so that they can be planted.
“Over 2,000 indigenous trees have so far been planted and distributed,” she adds.
Peninah Ruhindi, the chairperson of KORECWODA says they have also started a campaign to plant trees along river lines and protected water sources.
“We are encouraging more people to plant trees as we lead by example. We have planted along Kanywabarogo river line and also on two protected springs that are still surviving,” she explains.
Joram Basiima, the Community Educator in Kigaaga who is also the chairperson of Kigaaga Community Radio listeners club says they are reinforcing lessons from Community Green radio to ensure natural resource management by increasing forest cover and sustainable agriculture by planting indigenous trees which encourage agro-forestry.
“Community Green radio has also contributed a lot in creating awareness about environmental issues which has prompted communities to practice activities like tree planting,” he says
With support from National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE), community members are raising indigenous tree seedlings to conserve the environment. NAPE is also among the players of Save Bugoma Forest Campaign aimed at stopping the destruction of Bugoma central forest reserve in Hoima district.
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