Environmental economists from Makerere University’s Environment for Development Initiative (EfD-Mak) Centre have conducted a field visit to the Albertine oil fields in western Uganda with an aim to bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications in the oil and gas sector, focusing on environmental management, sustainable development, and community engagement.
Led by Prof. Johnny Mugisha, Deputy Centre Director, the team visited various oil and gas sites, including the Kingfisher oil well, Central Processing Facility, and Tilenga Industrial Park. They also engaged with stakeholders, including district leadership, community-based organizations, and private sector representatives.
“The objective of visiting the oil and gas sites and companies is to enable our research fellows familiarize with activities and operations in Uganda’s oil and gas with a view of fostering researchable projects, constructive dialogue and policy developments on critical issues related to sustainable development, environmental stewardship, environmental risk management and responsible oil and gas operations in the sensitive ecosystem of Lake Albert and Murchison Falls National park,” Prof. Mugisha explained.
Dr. Madina Mwagale Guloba, Senior Research Fellow, emphasized the value of firsthand observations, stating, “Seeing is believing, and seeing also learning from a point of view is very critical.” She dispelled what she termed “corridor talk,” noting that community members affected by oil projects appeared happier and saw more opportunities. “In the next 30 years, people would have gotten even more opportunities,” she added.
Prof. Mugisha also highlighted the necessity of interdisciplinary research, noting the interdependence of the petroleum sector and farming communities. “From interactions in Hoima, Bulisa, and with people in the oil sector, the lessons learned indicate that Makerere University has much more to contribute, especially in research, outreach, and grassroots stakeholder engagement. We often view the petroleum and gas sector as separate from farming communities, but our experiences show a significant relationship and interaction between them. Therefore, research should not be limited to one entity but should be cross-cutting,” he stated.
Dr. Alex Tatwangire, Research Fellow and Lecturer, emphasized the value of direct stakeholder interaction, noting effective environmental mitigation plans and agricultural integration in restoring livelihoods for project-affected persons. “This engagement with stakeholders on the policy of energy utilization in Hoima has been incredibly useful. We’ve had the chance to observe the oil extraction process firsthand. Reading about it and hearing about it is one thing but going on the ground and interacting with everyone involved provides a much richer understanding,” he remarked.
Dr. Tatwangire continued, “Seeing the wells, well pads, regulations, infrastructure, and the oil pipeline being laid, and being assured that oil will flow within a year, has been enlightening. We’ve learned a lot about the connections between the environment and how plans are in place to mitigate environmental damage. We also saw how agriculture is integrated into livelihood restoration for project-affected persons, with strategies to strengthen these livelihoods through training, seeds, and advanced technologies.”
“I return with a great appreciation for the progress being made. As researchers, our role is to identify gaps, explore research questions, and provide the evidence policymakers need to improve policy planning. I am grateful to EfD, our financiers, and Makerere University for these opportunities, and I hope for more such engagements to enhance our relevance in policy debates and development,” Dr. Tatwangire concluded.
The EfD-Mak Centre seeks to foster transdisciplinary research, knowledge transfer, and research-to-policy engagement in environmental economics. This visit marks a significant step towards collaboration with the oil and gas industry, aiming to enhance research and knowledge sharing on sustainable practices, environmental conservation, and petroleum management.
