The Government of Uganda has relocated the final Project Affected Persons (PAPs) after a comprehensive engagement process and legal proceedings.
This was confirmed in a statement dated May 15, 2024, by Dr. Patricia Litho, the Assistant Commissioner for Communications and Information Management, at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD).
“The Tilenga Project, operated by Total Energies in partnership with CNOOC and UNOC, reached a significant milestone with the successful relocation of the final Project Affected Person (PAP) under Resettlement Action Plan 2,” Litho said.
“This marks a crucial step in the land acquisition process for the oil and gas activities, with 99% of the approximately 5,900 PAPS compensated and relocated since the process began in 2017,” Litho added.
According to the statement, the final relocation took place on May 13, 2024, following a comprehensive engagement process and legal proceedings with the PAPs, who had consistently refused to relocate despite multiple offers and engagement efforts, like compensation exceeding the value of their assets on their land, a 30% disturbance allowance, a 30% uplift, and a modern replacement house equipped with solar power and rainwater collection systems.
On December 4, 2023, the government filed an application to the High Court in Hoima against Kisembo Rugadya and 41 others, seeking possession of vacant land parcels, which was granted on December 8, 2023.
The final PAP was served with a notice to vacate but declined. After a 30-day notice period, the government filed for an eviction order. On April 25, 2024, the court heard the application and granted an eviction order for the 0.791-acre land in Kirama village.
On May 9, 2024, following a thorough judicial process, an eviction order was granted, paving the way for the successful relocation four days later. The PAP’s subsequent appeal to the court to stay was dismissed by execution.
By January 2023, the government compensated 622 PAPs for land acquired to develop industrial areas in Buliisa and Tilenga Project Facilities.
