Oil: Communities demand for redress of emerging human rights issues

Communities in the oil region have called for respect of human rights as companies prospect for oil.

According to Immaculate Namukisa, a community liaison officer in Kakumiro, there is lack of transparency on the part of oil companies.

She said that compensation has delayed due to various aspects that need to be addressed and absence of approved district compensation rates.

She requested community to cooperate and take keen interest on who visits their community to minimise speculators, notify them regularly over any issues arising from project activities.

Brian Nahamya, a programme associate at Global Rights Alert, said in order to ensure inclusive and smooth project implementation, local communities must be centrally positioned to reap big from the investment.

Nahamya said government and oil companies must inform the communities on key project aspects.

"It is through access to information that accountability, transparency, democratic engagement and meaningful community participation in decision making for the project is ensured," he said.