Abstract
Uganda discovered commercially viable oil in 2006 and first production is expected to be in 2020. It is estimated that investment cost in the oil industry is approximately ($8b) Uganda Shillings 27 trillion to cover drilling of about 500 wells and development of associated infrastructure. Most oil operations are taking place in one of Uganda’s top ecological zones the Albertine Graben. Its significance has been equated to the Niger Delta of Nigeria which has been so degraded that the bounties of nature in the Delta have gradually been left to the dogs and turned into its instruments of poverty and squalor. Uganda’s Albertine Graben enjoys a formidable land covered with, forests, wild reserves and other ecological resources of great economic and social importance. The Graben is situated in the northern section of the western arm of the East African Rift Valley System, 500 km long, averaging 45 km wide and 23,000 square km. Graben moves between Uganda and Sudan in the north to Lake Edward in the south, (including the Democratic Republic of Congo).
Therefore, land conservation should be a priority whilst oil activities are ongoing for the oil infrastructures such as roads, pipelines and refineries contribute to the degradation of the land cover which in turn exacerbates poverty and underdevelopment.
This chapter seeks to examine the adequacy of the legal regime towards protection and conservation of the land in the Graben. The chapter specifically reviews major laws on land conservation and oil exploration and production regulation such as the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, Land Act (Government of the Republic of Uganda (1998): The Land Act 1998 (Cap 227)), the National Environment Act, the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) (PEDP) Act of 2013 (upstream) and midstream the Petroleum (Refining, Conversion, Transmission and Midstream Storage) (PRCTMS) Act 2013. The chapter concludes that the implementation and enforcement of land conservation laws is critical to control negative impacts of oil exploration and production on land resources.
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Notes
- 1.
Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment (2012).
- 2.
Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment (2012), p. 3.
- 3.
Kakura and Ssekyana (2009), p. 65.
- 4.
Nkonya et al. (2002), p. 10.
- 5.
Ling et al. (2007).
- 6.
Article 26(2)(b)(i) of the 1995 Constitution.
- 7.
Article 39 of the 1995 Constitution.
- 8.
Principle II of the Democratic principles under the National Objectives and Directive principles of state policy in the 1995 Constitution of Uganda.
- 9.
Land Act 1998 (Cap 227).
- 10.
Global Rights Alert (2017).
- 11.
International Monetary Fund (2010).
- 12.
NEMA (2009), p. 3.
- 13.
NEMA (2009), p. 3.
- 14.
NEMA (2009), p. 3.
- 15.
Johnson et al. (2014).
- 16.
Plumptre et al. (2009).
- 17.
There are three main lakes; Lake Albert, Lake Edward, and Lake George.
- 18.
The perennial rivers (Hohwa and Wambabya) flow continuously with peak flow during the rainy season.
- 19.
NEMA (2009), p. 9.
- 20.
NEMA (2009), p. 12.
- 21.
NEMA (2009), p. 13.
- 22.
Located in the extreme north-east of this region.
- 23.
Situated in Buliisa and Masindi Districts respectively which are located in the immediate south.
- 24.
Located mid-way of the region.
- 25.
Situated in the extreme south-west.
- 26.
NEMA (2009), p. 13.
- 27.
Nkonya et al. (2002).
- 28.
Nkonya et al. (2002), p. 5.
- 29.
Golombok and Jones (2015), p. 3.
- 30.
Oil in Uganda (March 6th, 2018).
- 31.
The Independent (July 18th, 2017).
- 32.
Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (2015), p. 36.
- 33.
Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (2015), p. 36.
- 34.
MEMD (2017), p. 5.
- 35.
Oil in Uganda (March 6th, 2018).
- 36.
Johnson et al. (2014), p. 26.
- 37.
SNF (2011).
- 38.
Bainomugisha et al. (2006).
- 39.
Gordon et al. (2011).
- 40.
Kasimbazi (2012).
- 41.
Kasimbazi (2012).
- 42.
Johnson et al. (2014), p. 28.
- 43.
MEMD (2017), p. 11.
- 44.
MEMD (2017), p. 2.
- 45.
Funding amounting to USD 531.00 million had been approved and to be availed over two financial years.
- 46.
Stevens (2014).
- 47.
Stevens (2014).
- 48.
Stevens (2014).
- 49.
Kasimbazi (2012).
- 50.
Oil in Uganda (March 6th, 2018).
- 51.
MEMD (2017), p. 7.
- 52.
Signed in Kampala on 26th May 2017 by Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Eng. Irene Muloni, and Tanzania’s Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs Hon. Prof. Palamagamba John A.M Kabudi.
- 53.
MEMD (2017).
- 54.
Oil in Uganda (6th March 2018).
- 55.
MOEN (2008), p. 10.
- 56.
The Masterplan for the Industrial Park has been developed taking into considerations the expected industries to be established in future, shared utilities and common services, management and financing structure of the park. The Industrial Park will be managed by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC).
- 57.
Mubiru et al. (2017).
- 58.
Nkonya et al. (2002), p. 10.
- 59.
Nkonya et al. (2002), p. 10.
- 60.
Stevens (2014).
- 61.
Laitos and Toumain (1992), p. 448.
- 62.
A number of spills are attributable to sabotage which is defined as a willful attempt to disrupt or interrupt the production or distribution of oil by third parties.
- 63.
Oil experts assert that many pipelines and installations in the Niger Delta have not been adequately maintained, and this is a contributory factor in corrosion and leaks.
- 64.
CEPMLP (2008), p. 44.
- 65.
Eyinla and Ukpo (2006).
- 66.
Amnesty International (2009), p. 17.
- 67.
Ekundayo and Obuekwe (2000).
- 68.
Ekundayo and Obuekwe (2000).
- 69.
United States Court of Appeal for the First Circuit- 594 F.2d 872 (1979), 283, 448.
- 70.
Bradbrook et al. (2003), p. 448.
- 71.
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit- 628 F.2d 652 (1981).
- 72.
Often called the OPA 90 passed by senate without a single dissenting vote, even though attempts to strengthen oil spill laws had foundered for years until then. Perhaps the extent of the Exxon Valdez spill juxtaposed against the west and east coasts, explains the unanimity.
- 73.
Occurred January 28th, 1969 as Union Oil Drilled the 5th well on it Platform A in the channel, the well blew out. Eleven days passed before the well was plugged and some 24,000 to 71,000 barrels of oil spilled into the channel and onto nearby beaches.
- 74.
Enacted 1969.
- 75.
Coastal Zone Management Act 1973.
- 76.
Stevens (2014).
- 77.
Operational Waste Management Guidelines for Oil and Gas Operations, p. 3.
- 78.
The National Environmental Act, Cap 153 of 1995.
- 79.
National Oil and Gas Policy for Uganda, NOGP (2008).
- 80.
Article 39 of the 1995 Constitution.
- 81.
Article 26 (1) of the 1995 Constitution.
- 82.
Article 26(2)(a).
- 83.
Article 26(2)(b)(i).
- 84.
Oil in Uganda (March 6th, 2018).
- 85.
Oil in Uganda (March 6th, 2018).
- 86.
Oil in Uganda (March 6th, 2018).
- 87.
Leopold (1989), p. 223.
- 88.
Leopold (1989), p. 223.
- 89.
1995 National Environment Act, Chapter 153.
- 90.
Section 4 NEA.
- 91.
Section 6 NEA.
- 92.
Article 39 of the 1995 constitution provides for the right to a clean and healthy environment.
- 93.
Constitutional Petition No. 03/05.
- 94.
Section 6 NEA.
- 95.
Section 30 (1) NEA.
- 96.
Section 30 (2) NEA.
- 97.
Preamble of the Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Act (PEDP Act) of 2013.
- 98.
Section 129 PEDP Act.
- 99.
Section. 3, 5, 6 PEDP Act.
- 100.
Report of the Auditor General (2014).
- 101.
Section 3 (1) of the Petroleum Refining, Conversion, Transmission and Midstream Storage (PRCTMS) Act 2013.
- 102.
Section 3(2) PRCTMS Act.
- 103.
Under Section 3(3) of the PRCTMS Act a licensee shall contract a separate entity to manage the transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of waste arising out of midstream operations.
- 104.
Section 3(5) PRMCTS Act.
- 105.
Sections 56 PRCTMS Act.
- 106.
Section 58 PRMCTS Act.
- 107.
Section 26 PRMCTS Act.
- 108.
Section 6.2.4 NOGP.
- 109.
Section 7.2.6.1 NOGP.
- 110.
Section 6.2 NOGP.
- 111.
Section 6.2 NOGP.
- 112.
Section 6.2 NOGP.
- 113.
See the 1975 Petroleum Production and Distribution (Anti-Sabotage) Act, Cap 353.
- 114.
These provisions were proposed under the National Environment (Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Management) Regulations, 2014 that is yet to be passed.
- 115.
Clause 50 of the National Environment Management Bill.
- 116.
Clause 58.
- 117.
Clause 59.
- 118.
Clause 60.
- 119.
Rwakakamba (2009).
- 120.
Rwakakamba (2009).
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Kassim, W. (2020). Land Conservation in the Albertine Graben Region of Uganda: A Critical Analysis of the Legal Regimes. In: Yahyah, H., Ginzky, H., Kasimbazi, E., Kibugi, R., Ruppel, O. (eds) Legal Instruments for Sustainable Soil Management in Africa. International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36004-7_5
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