Community Resilience to the Proposed Oil Pipeline Threats in the Albertine Region, Western Uganda.

Abstract

Natural gas and oil pipeline development projects can potentially result into safety and environmental impacts to Project Affected Persons (PAPs). The construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is underway after partnering states (Tanzania and Uganda) signed agreements for its commencement. This led to large scale displacements and resettlement of the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) leaving them in a dire state to survive and hence risking being vulnerable and thus less resilient. This study examined the communities’ interpretation of resilience, their attitudes and perceptions on the ESIA proposed actions that are relevant for community resilience, barriers faced and the strategies in building their resilience to the proposed construction and operation of the EACOP in Kiziranfumbi (where majority PAPs were not compensated) and Kabaale (where PAPs were fully compensated) sub counties in Kikuube and Hoima districts respectively. Descriptive and interpretive research designs were employed, and data collected using interviews and questionnaires. An ANOVA test was used to determine the level of variation in attitudes and interpretation by the different social groups towards several statements interpreting facets of resilience. It was also used to establish the variation in attitude towards the proposed actions in the ESIA report relevant in building and fostering the resilience of the community to the proposed oil pipeline project. A Chi square test was performed to determine the association between barriers affecting the PAPs and their socio-demographic characteristics. A Binary logistic regression was performed to ascertain how the socio-demographic characteristics of the PAPs are related to the strategies they stated to enhance community resilience.

The perceptions of resilience towards the proposed oil pipeline varied from one location of the respondent to another. The PAPs in Kabaale sub-county in Hoima perceived resilience as a mechanism to adapt to the project whereas the respondents in Kiziranfumbi in Kikuube district perceived resilience as a means towards preparedness towards the likely impacts the project on their community. The people’s perceptions of the different facets of community resilience did not vary amongst the different socio-demographic characteristics of the PAPs. The PAPs valued more the access to financial literacy, access to arable land and the respect of compensation agreements in the quest for any community to be resilient to a development project.

The communities that were already compensated (Kabaale) valued more the significance of the role of receiving their compensation in due time compared to those in Kiziranfumbi who were still expectant of this compensation. Project affected persons who were employed in the formal sector compared to other forms of employment treasured access to skills development programs in the quest to be resilient. Women in both communities compared to men valued more access to farmers’ business networks and emphasized the need to train them (women) in business skills so that they make a living so as to counter the likely challenges by the proposed EACOP.

Access to health centers where they can access free treatment and appreciating the role of family and friends were the strategies to building resilience in the two communities. The resilience of communities affected by infrastructure developments can be fostered through timely compensation, improving the health care services and improving the literacy rates among the PAPs in the project affected areas within the Albertine region.