Ezrah Kashumbusha.
HOIMA, April 15, 2024 | Tilenga project affected landowners in Uganda have rallied outside the High Court in Hoima, demanding a judicial review of a recent ruling that cleared the government’s intention to evict 42 families from their homes to make way for the Tilenga project.
Brandishing placards with powerful messages such as “Stop Land Grabs” and “Our Land, Our Lives,” the protesting families made their voices heard as they marched through the streets of Hoima toward the High Court. Led by Fred Mwesige, one of the affected landowners, the demonstrators expressed grave concerns over what they perceive as the government prioritizing the interests of oil companies over the rights and well-being of its citizens.
The spark for the protest stems from a ruling delivered by Justice Jessy Byaruhanga Rugyema of the High Court in Hoima on December 8, 2023. The court ruled in favor of the government, ordering the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to initiate the eviction process and deposit over 950 million Ugandan Shillings in compensation at the court after Total Energies took possession of the land.
However, dissent among the affected families emerged with many raising concerns of the unfairness of the valuation process and the determination of final compensation rates. The lawyer representing the affected families, Kato Tumusiime, argues that the government’s compulsory acquisition of land from Project Affected Persons (PAPs) contradicts Article 26 of the 1995 Constitution, which guarantees the right to prompt, fair, and adequate compensation for property acquired by the state.
The protesting landowners demand a halt to the compensation process until an independent expert conducts a thorough, inclusive, and transparent review of the court ruling. They are adamant about defending their rights to their land and livelihoods amidst the looming threat of displacement.
