A new study published in the African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences has revealed that Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in Kiziranfumbi Sub County, Kikuube District, remain largely dissatisfied with compensation under the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project.
Conducted by researchers from Makerere University’s College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), the study examined perceptions of adequacy and fairness of compensation among 150 PAPs, alongside insights from local leaders, government officials, and civil society actors.
Key Findings
The key findings in the study include delays in compensation, largely linked to the COVID‑19 pandemic, and emerged as the most critical factor driving dissatisfaction among Project Affected Persons (PAPs). Transparency, accurate asset valuation, and prior negotiation were also highlighted as essential to fair compensation. The Compensation Satisfaction Index averaged just 47 percent, with only crops, trees, and resettlement housing scoring above the halfway mark. PAPs who received in‑kind compensation, such as housing, reported greater satisfaction than those who received cash. Meanwhile, external advocacy by NGOs and civil society organizations played a significant role in shaping perceptions, amplifying frustration where procedural gaps were evident.
Implications
The findings highlight a pressing need for government and project implementers to strengthen stakeholder engagement, transparency, and timely disbursement of compensation. Researchers argue that aligning Uganda’s compensation framework more closely with international best practices will be critical to restoring trust and ensuring sustainable infrastructure development.
“For a PAP to be satisfied with compensation, the assessed award must be paid on time,” the study notes, emphasizing that delays undermine livelihood restoration and erode confidence in public institutions.
About the Study
The research was led by Faruk Kalinaki, Ronald Ssengendo, and Lilian Oryema of Makerere University’s Department of Geomatics and Land Management, School of Built Environment (CEDAT). It represents one of the first empirical assessments of compensation satisfaction in Uganda’s oil region, offering valuable insights for policymakers, project developers, and civil society organizations.
Here is the attached research publication.