A Legal Analysis of Land Conflicts Arising from Oil and Gas Activities in The Albertine Graben Region:

Abstract

The study sought to provide a legal analysis of land conflicts arising from oil and gas activities in the Albertine graben specifically Hoima district. The study was intended to objectively assess the legal regime relating land rights and oil and gas activities in Uganda; to assess the extent to which oil and gas activities have contributed to land conflicts in Hoima District, and to make recommendations and proposals for the oil and gas sector on how to minimize and/or mitigate potential risks of land conflicts. The study employed a descriptive research design. A sample of 251 respondents including project affected persons, district local leaders, representative from oil and gas companies, were selected using purposive sampling techniques. Both quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (interviewing and focused group discussions) data collection approaches were used in the study. The findings of the study revealed that oil and gas activities have exacerbated land conflicts in Hoima district. The study revealed that due to the anticipated land compensations, there have been cases of land grabbing, and speculative buyers who exploit the locals. The study also revealed an information gap between oil companies, district local leaders and the locals. It was also found that most project affected persons are only recipients of decisions, policies and directives concerning their land and they are rarely consulted during the process of reaching such decisions leaving a good number of projects affected persons disgruntled with the compensations given to them for their land.