Residents of Kikuube have protested against Daqing Oilfield Construction Group Limited, a company that was subcontracted by CNOOC Uganda to undertake the construction of the crucial feeder pipeline from the Kingfisher Oilfield to the export delivery point. The company is accused of allegedly being behind the massive destruction of the environment as they execute their work.
The Kingfisher Feeder Line project starts from the Central Processing Facility-CPF of Kingfisher Oilfield and ends at the export oil delivery point.
However, the project-affected persons and those settling adjacent to the feeder pipeline say the company has not adhered to the set environmental guidelines and standards.
Some of the members from the affected areas held placards as they matched through the streets of Kikuube towards the offices of Daqing Oilfield Construction Group Limited in Hohwa village along the Hohwa-Kyarushesha-Kyangwali- Buhuka road in Kabwoya sub-county.
The placards read; “Stop EACOP”, “Find climate solution not destruction”, “Respect our rights”, Need for safe water, and Invest in our future among others.
They argue that the destruction of nature that is critical during this time when the Albertine region and the country will be undergoing the production phase of the oil and gas is criminal and should be highly condemned.
They added that the company has negatively impacted the environment by encroaching and degrading the wetlands, swamps, and water sources and also cutting down trees to pave the way for the construction of the pipeline that they have not replaced.
Adriko Sostine Leti, a resident of Kaseeta village in Kabwoya sub-county says, the company has cut down trees that used to attract rainfall in the area but has not replaced any.
This he says, has resulted in a shortage of rainfall with the area receiving almost no rainfall for the past year. He wants the government to prevail over the company so that it can protect nature.
Julius Tumwine, a resident of Rwengabi says, that since the company embarked on the construction of the feeder pipeline, the area started experiencing adverse climate change following the destruction of swamps, wetlands, water sources, and cutting down of indigenous trees.
Kamiat Bingi, a resident of Ndongo village explains that women in the area trek a long distance in search of clean drinking water since most of the water sources in the area have been blocked and destroyed by the construction of the oil pipeline.
Bridget Nabwire, from Green Foster Action Foundation-GREFA, wants the entire EACOP project halted for the oil companies to first address the emerging issues affecting the project-affected persons and the neighboring communities stating that residents are exposed to environmental hazards.
She says, while the project may bring short-term economic benefits such as the creation of jobs and infrastructure development, they are often outweighed by the long-term environmental and social costs.
Abdul Aziz Bweete, a researcher from Kyambogo University says, the company should re-evaluate and conduct a comprehensive reassessment of the Kingfisher project’s environmental and social impacts with a particular focus on its contribution to climate change.
He says the risk of oil spills and other environmental hazards poses a severe threat to the ecosystems endangering wildlife and communities who depend on the natural environment for their livelihoods.
An official at Daqing Oilfield Construction Group Limited who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity, because he is not authorized to speak for the company, stated that they are doing everything possible to ensure that they execute their work in an environmentally friendly manner.
He says the protection and conservation of nature is crucial in their operations adding that they will plant and replace all the trees cut down in the process of clearing the bush to pave the way for the construction of the pipeline.
The 1,443km crude oil export pipeline will transport Uganda’s crude oil from Hoima in Uganda to the Chongoleani peninsula near Tanga Port in Tanzania.
It is envisaged to be the longest electrically heated pipeline in the world and will cross through 10 districts in Uganda, a distance of 296 kilometers, and 25 districts in Tanzania, covering eight regions and 25 districts.
The government rolled out the program of acquiring land for the project in August 2018.
According to the agreed plan, the pipeline route will begin from Hoima through Kikuube, Kakumiro, Kyankwanzi, Mubende, Gomba, Sembabule, Lwengo, Kyotera, and Rakai, and cross the Tanzania border between Masaka and Bukoba, and traverse Tanzania through Kahama, Singida, Kondoa, into Tanga.
In 2022, the EU Parliament passed a resolution to stay the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) for a year.
The EU Parliament then wanted the entire EACOP project delayed citing alleged gross human rights violations and environmental concerns.
The European Parliament resolution adopted raised concern over human rights violations in Uganda and Tanzania linked to investments in the oil and gas sector.
The EU Parliament zeroed in on the wrongful imprisonment of human rights defenders, the arbitrary suspension of NGOs, arbitrary prison sentences, and the eviction of hundreds of people from their land without fair and adequate compensation.
According to the EU Parliament, more than 100,000 people were at risk of being displaced by the EACOP project, and demanded for them to be adequately compensated.
The EU Parliament was also tasked to put to an end the extractive activities in the protected and sensitive ecosystems including the shores of Lake Albert citing the 132 wells that Total Energies plans to dig into the Murchison Falls which is a protected area National Park and to other protected areas where the heated EACOP pipeline will go through.
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Luis Diaz was fouled in Liverpool clash. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Liverpool were 1-0 winners over Girona in the Champions League on Tuesday night and former Reds star Steve McManaman feels his old club got a little lucky. The Merseyside club arrived into the clash in Spain having won all five of their Champions League matches and Arne Slot’s men kept up their 100 per cent record with the victory.Girona caused Liverpool a lot of problems in the first half and the Reds boss can thank his goalkeeper Alisson Becker for keeping the home side out. The Merseyside outfit were much better in the second 45 minutes and it was during this half that the biggest talking point of the game emerged.Donny van de Beek would commit a clumsy challenge on Luis Diaz – who has recently been linked with a move away from Anfield – in the Girona box when the Dutch midfielder barely stepped on the winger’s heel.The referee viewed the coming together as a foul after being sent to the VAR monitor, resulting in Mohamed Salah converting the spot-kick.The incident sparked a lot of debate on social media and former Liverpool star Steve McManaman felt his old club were lucky to get the decision.
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Steve McManaman on the Liverpool penalty incident
Liverpool star Luis Diaz earned Liverpool a penalty. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)Speaking after the match, McManaman stated that he thought the penalty was harsh and compared it to the unpunished fouls that often happen during corners and free-kicks.“You expect the midfielders to go to close down and if you stand on an inch of his heel, it is very unfortunate,” the pundit said on TNT Sports. “With all respect, it is a contact game. We see a lot more contact at corners and free-kicks that go unmentioned so I don’t think it was a penalty regardless of the result.”
“He’s given the referee an opportunity to make a decision or VAR to get involved” ?@rioferdy5 and Steve McManaman give their verdict on Liverpool’s penalty ?
? @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/wwH4emYXiI
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2024Liverpool will feel fortunate that they were awarded the penalty but Van de Beek gave the referee a decision to make after making the clumsy foul in their own box.Slot’s men were not at their best in Spain but as seen several times this season, the Reds found a way to come away from the match with all three points. https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/12/10/liverpool-champions-league-tnt/
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Far more than a home theater system, you’ll also be able to use the HW-Q6CC to stream music from a phone or tablet using Bluetooth. Pair two devices simultaneously and enjoy fast playback with Samsung’s Tap Sound feature, which lets you start playing a song from your phone through the Samsung soundbar just by tapping one device to the other.
While it’s hard to say how long this markdown is going to last, Samsung deals like this one have gone pretty quickly in the past. That being said, today might be the best day to save. Take $180 off the Samsung 3.1ch HW-Q6CC Soundbar when you purchase at Walmart, and be sure to check out our list of the best Walmart deals for even more holiday discounts!
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The case in which two city lawyers are accused of forgery has taken a new twist after a prominent law firm has been implicated for alleged convenience in misleading court.
In the letter dated December 3, 2024 to the Inspector of Courts, pastor Daniel Walugembe has accused the lawyers, Robert Ssenfuka and Umar Nyanzi of SK and Partners Advocates of colluding with their colleagues at H&G Advocates to commit the alleged crimes.
Through his lawyers, Walugembe states that there is coordinated convenience between H&G Advocates and SK and Partners Advocates whose sole intention is to mislead and bias court against him which is very unfortunate and regrettable.
“Your worship, it is evident that in the letter written by H&G Advocates dated 23rd December 2021, requested for certified copies of proceedings, plaint, affidavit of service, and written statement of defense, consent judgment and decree in Civil Suit No. 699of 2017. Indeed in the letter dated 9th December 2022,” reads the petition adding that Natukunda Jeneva the Deputy Registrar certified the same documents.
According to the petition seeking for the intervention of the judiciary authorities into the matter, Walugembe insists that nowhere the registrar “gave any agreement to H&G advocates which they purportedly passed on to SK and Partners who are their conduits.”
Petition indicates that H&G Advocates is the law firm that represents Makerere University in the case litigated with Walugembe before the Land Division of the High Court; “But at no single point has H&G ever brought this purported sale agreement to disapprove or show inconsistent in his claim.”
The petition copied to the Chief Justice and other lawyers, the lawyers; Ssenfuka and Nyanzi are accused of concocting information and documents with a view of misleading court.
Through his lawyers of Alma Associated Advocates, Walugembe accused the lawyers of misleading court in the sworn statements to the principal judge that their client, Dr Ntwatwa Lule has never been party to earlier cases before the High Court.
“On that basis alone, it is our considered view that a person who can advise his client to lie on oath cannot be trusted at all. To demonstrate to you the perpetual lies of the accused persons in the affidavit they drafted for their client, drawn by SK and Partners Advocates, they advised their client to lie that he has never been party to application number 434 of 2019,” reads the complaint.
The petition copied to the chief justice, judicial authorities and lawyers was in response to complaints challenging the private prosecution of the lawyers Ssenfuka and Nyanzi.
Ssenfuka and Nyanzi both attached to SK & Partners Advocates are accused of fraud in regard to alleged forgery of agreements for Kibanja in Katanga near Wandegeya.
Last week, the Magistrates Court at Buganda Road, Jalia Basajjabalaba issued criminal summons against Ssenfuka and Nyanzi to answer accusations of forgery and uttering false
The duo is expected to appear in court on December 17, 2024 for plea taking and also for hearing formal application in which they are challenging the legality of the charges.
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It is alleged that the lawyers Ssenfuka and Nyanzi attached to SK & Partners Advocates while acting for and on behalf of their client, Dr Ntwatwa Lule committed criminal acts.
Court documents indicate that the accused lawyers are alleged to have committed forgery, uttering false documents and conspired to commit a felony when knowingly and unlawfully altered sales agreements dated February 9, 1996 and August 13, 1996 respectively.
H&G Advocates Accused of Forgery as Court Documents in Walugembe Case Face Scrutiny