Two international human rights organisations have raised fresh concerns over what they describe as ongoing abuses affecting communities around Uganda’s Kingfisher oil project in Kikuube District.
In a briefing released this week, the groups accused security forces and project actors of subjecting residents to militarised restrictions, unlawful evictions, harassment, and gender-based violations. Fisherfolk and women traders were cited among those most affected, with reports of extortion at road checkpoints, restricted access to fishing grounds, and exploitation.
The Kingfisher development, operated by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), is part of Uganda’s wider push to tap oil reserves along the shores of Lake Albert. It has, however, drawn mounting criticism from civil society organisations who argue that the economic promise of oil has come at the expense of local livelihoods and fundamental rights.
“People are living under daily fear. Communities that once depended on fishing and farming now face intimidation and shrinking opportunities to earn a living,” the report states, urging both the government and project operators to act decisively to protect affected families.
The organisations further demanded independent investigations into allegations of forced displacement and inadequate compensation for land lost to the project. They cautioned that without accountability; abuses could deepen as Uganda accelerates preparations for commercial oil production and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
Government officials have consistently defended the oil developments as critical for Uganda’s growth, promising thousands of jobs and infrastructure improvements. But rights groups insist that the benefits must not override the protection of vulnerable communities.
The Kingfisher project, one of two major oil fields under development in Uganda, is expected to produce its first oil in the coming years. For now, however, the voices of rights defenders remain a stark reminder of the human cost behind the country’s energy ambitions.