Bunyoro leaders sound alarm on evictions amid oil rush
Since the confirmation of commercial oil at the Mputa-1 well in 2006, the Bunyoro sub-region has witnessed a surge in land disputes, displacing residents from their ancestral lands.
By George Busiinge
The discovery of oil and gas in Uganda’s Albertine Graben has fueled not only economic expectations but also an alarming wave of land grabbing and illegal evictions, according to local leaders.
Since the confirmation of commercial oil at the Mputa-1 well in 2006, the Bunyoro sub-region has witnessed a surge in land disputes, displacing residents from their ancestral lands.
Although Uganda’s petroleum potential was first noted in the 1920s, with early drilling in 1938, it is the recent viability for exploitation that has intensified the scramble for land.
Economic Promise, Social Upheaval
Hoima District Chairperson, Uthuman Mugisa, confirmed the rising crisis: “Since oil and gas was discovered, the region has registered a rise in cases of land grabbing, and many people have been evicted from their respective pieces of land.”
He linked the trend to skyrocketing land values following major government infrastructure projects, such as the Kabalega International Airport, the Hoima City Stadium, and the Kabalega Industrial Park. These ventures have turned the area into a magnet for speculators.
Hotspots of Conflict
The worst-affected areas include Kapaapi Sub-County in Hoima District and Kyangwali and Kiziranfumbi Sub-Counties in Kikuube District, where land conflicts have reached crisis levels.
The Bunyoro Chief Prince, Fred Mugenyi Rucunya, lamented the human toll: “Land grabbers have displaced many people from their land and some of the victims are now staying in the internally displaced persons camp, like in Kikuube where we have many camps.”
He blamed the displacement on the overlap of oil discoveries with the lack of formal land ownership documents, which has left locals vulnerable.
Efforts to Contain the Crisis
Authorities have begun tightening controls. The Hoima District Land Board is now required to rigorously verify all land title applications before approval. Mugisa warned residents not to casually endorse title applications without thorough checks.
Meanwhile, Kikuube Resident District Commissioner, Godwin Angalia, directed that no evictions may proceed without clearance from the district security committee, even when backed by a court order. The move aims to curb forceful evictions under the guise of legality.
Balancing Growth and Rights
The land grabbing crisis underscores the double-edged nature of Uganda’s oil boom. While the sector promises transformative economic growth, the absence of robust land governance and protection measures threatens to undermine community livelihoods.
Unless comprehensive safeguards are implemented, analysts warn that Uganda’s oil wealth could fuel social instability, pitting development ambitions against the rights of vulnerable citizens.
