Buhuka fishing community protests closure of Buhuka-DR Congo border entry
The criticism comes after the Kikuube district resident commissioner, Godwin Angalia, announced that the regional security committee had resolved to close Uganda-DR Congo border entry at Nsonga landing site known as the Buhuka landing site, along the shores of Lake Albert.
Fisher men at Nsonga landing site in the waters of Lake Albert casting their nets. (Credit: Patey Abaanabasazi
KIKUUBE - Local leaders in the fishing community of Buhuka parish in Kyangwali sub-county in Kikuube district have criticised the decision by security in Bunyoro sub-region to close the Buhuka-DR Congo border entry in Kikuube district.
The criticism comes after the Kikuube district resident commissioner, Godwin Angalia, announced that the regional security committee had resolved to close Uganda-DR Congo border entry at Nsonga landing site known as the Buhuka landing site, along the shores of Lake Albert.
Buhuka is the home of Kingfisher field development area, spread over approximately 344km in the Lake Albert Rift Valley Basin in western Uganda, and is developed by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).
According to Angalia, the Kingfisher field development area is hosting several facilities, including a central processing facility, 46-kilometer feeder pipeline and well pads worth trillions of shillings.
He noted that such facilities are exposed to security threats if they leave this border crossing to continue operating, adding that many people from DR Congo have been entering the country through this border, which poses a security threat to the projects in the area.
He noted that during the meeting, they resolved that the Nsonga border entry and immigration offices be relocated to Ssebagoro landing site in Kabwoya sub-county.
Angalia said they were concerned that there was a growing population and some people had started constructing permanent structures in the area.
He added that the residents in the area will be asked to vacate to other areas, adding that district leaders will engage the office of the presidency, the Ministry of Security, and the Office of the Prime Minister to see if the residents can be compensated before they vacate.
However, this decision was welcomed with criticism from local leaders and the fishing community and demanded that the resolution be rescinded.
Angalia said they were concerned that there was a growing population and some people had started constructing permanent structures in the area. (Credit: Peter Abaanabasazi)
Emmanuel Bisemeza, the Kyangwali sub-county chairperson, said that Nsonga landing site is an official landing site, which has existed for years, and it has never faced any security issue.
Bisemeza said the resolution was made without consulting the local leaders to have their input. He said the border entry is the biggest tax base for Kyangwali sub-county, adding that closing it will mean losing a revenue base and violating the rights of residents in the area.
He noted that there is no security threat in the area and that they are using the Kingfisher oil field as an excuse by some people who have their own interests.
“Let the oil and gas project not become a curse to the people of Kyangwali; this decision is going to make people regret why oil was discovered in their area,” Bisemeza said before he asked authorities to rescind the decision.
Dismas Babihemaiso, the chairperson of Nsonga B in Buhuka parish, also protested the resolution, saying there is no threat in the area that would force the security team to close the landing site.
He noted that closure of the landing site is unfair to the community, adding that several people have been in the area for decades and they put up several developments in the area, including permanent houses and businesses.
Babihemaiso also noted that the resolution was made without involving them and demanded a review of the decision.