Uganda’s Wetlands Face Growing Pressure From Oil Activities, AFIEGO warns

 

By Monica Meeme

KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s oil developments are putting wetlands, wildlife and the communities that depend on them at risk through siltation, blocked waterways, floods,noise and air pollution, according to a new report by the Africa Institute for Energy Governance.

AFIEGO is calling on the government to strengthen wetland protection and require oil companies to restore ecosystems affected by oil-related activities.The call follows AFIEGO’s July 2026 research brief, “Siltation, Noisy Generators & Air Pollution: Documenting Oil Sector Damage to Murchison Falls National Park & Uganda’s Wetlands.” The research, conducted between March and June 2026, examined environmental and socioeconomic impacts linked to the Tilenga, Kingfisher and East African Crude Oil Pipeline projects in Buliisa, Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro and Kyotera districts.

The report says EACOP affects 158 wetland sections in Uganda and links activities associated with the three oil projects to reported cases of siltation, blocked waterways, noise and air pollution in some wetlands.

Noise, pollution threaten wildlife

The environmental impacts extend beyond wetlands and waterways, with experts warning that noise and air pollution from oil activities could disrupt wildlife.A biodiversity expert interviewed for the report said human-generated noise and vibrations stress wildlife and interfere with communication, movement and feeding.

Elephants are particularly vulnerable because they can detect sounds from much greater distances than humans, the expert said. Increased noise could cause them to move away from affected areas, reduce time spent feeding and resting, and interfere with communication within herds.

The report also raises concerns about emissions from the fossil fuel-powered generators being used within the project areas. Pollutants such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide contribute to respiratory problems, weakened immunity and reproductive disruptions in wildlife.

Air pollution can also contributes to acid rain, which then affects lakes and streams and aquatic life. The report notes that metals such as aluminum can accumulate in fish, potentially creating risks for people who consume contaminated fish.

Blocked waterways disrupt ecosystems

In Hoima, AFIEGO documented concerns over blocked tributaries that have reduced water flow into Wambabya Forest, affecting chimpanzees that depend on the area's water sources.

One woman interviewed for the research said chimpanzees have increasingly entered nearby communities in search of water, damaging crops.

Experts warned that blocking wetland tributaries can disrupt natural water flows and affect aquatic habitats and the life cycles of fish and birds that depend on seasonal water movements for breeding and migration.Stagnant or oxygen-depleted water can also alter aquatic ecosystems and threaten species that depend on them.The impacts could extend to communities through reduced fishing opportunities and limited access to water for drinking, cooking and watering livestock, the report said.

Siltation raises flooding concerns

Communities in Kakumiro reported siltation in the Kafu wetland system that they associate with EACOP construction. Residents said the buildup of sediment has contributed to flooding in nearby gardens and homesteads.The Kibale/Bukoora wetland, part of the Sango Bay-Musambwa Island-Kagera Ramsar system, was also reported to have experienced blocked tributaries and soil runoff associated with construction activities.

Government Defends Oil Development

The Ugandan government has maintained that oil development is important to the country’s economic transformation, arguing that petroleum revenues can finance infrastructure, create jobs and support industrialization.

Dr. Monica Musenero,the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, said in August that Uganda’s oil wealth should be used as a catalyst for industrialization, innovation and long-term economic transformation. The Petroleum Authority of Uganda estimates that the oil projects could generate direct, indirect and induced employment, while increasing participation of Ugandan companies in the sector.Uganda’s petroleum laws require restoration of land affected by petroleum activities and provide for environmental and safety regulation of the sector.

AFIEGO Chief Executive Officer Dickens Kamugisha said Uganda’s pursuit of oil development should not undermine ecosystems on which communities depend.Kamugisha called on the government to require TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Uganda and China National Offshore Oil Corporation Uganda to remediate damage to wetlands associated with their operations.

“Uganda’s oil activities are negatively impacting important wetlands on which millions depend,” Kamugisha said in a statement. “Uganda cannot attain sustainable economic transformation by degrading the very ecosystems that support citizens.”