Residents in the oil rich Buliisa district want a monthly allowance from government as compensation for the likely negative effects associated with oil.
In addition to losing their pieces of land and property to the oil exploration sites, the locals claim there are a number of environmental effects they are likely to suffer as a result of oil.
Wendi Mulimba, the Civic Cell Local council one chairman says although there are a number of social benefits like good roads, schools and health centers being built in the area, people need to be catered for at individual level.
Mulimba claims that many residents have already lost their land and property to the oil exploration sites and yet compensation for damages by oil companies is small.
He wants a certain percentage of oil royalties to go to residents in form of monthly allowances to help them recover from such effects.
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Mbidi Nyamazaabo, a resident of Kityanga Cell in Buliisa town council lost his large acreage of cassava and cotton during the exploration at Kasemena oil well early this year.
Nyamazaabo claims the compensation he got from Tullow Oil for the damages was less than the value of his lost property.
Nyamazaabo says a monthly pay for him would be vital.
But Buliisa County Member of Parliament, Stephen Mukitale Birahwa disagrees with his electorate on this demand.
Birahwa who fears that this money could be swindled by leaders without benefiting the locals, maintains that government should instead build capacities of his people on how they can best mitigate such oil related effects.
The Member of Parliament also re-echoes a need for government to register and issue titles for land in Buliisa to guard against speculators.
Buliisa district has of recent been flooded by land speculators targeting areas presumed to be rich in oil.
Local leaders claim they receive an average of five people seeking to be availed land in the oil rich area.
Buliisa district has the majority of oil wells now under exploration in the albertine grabben.
The residents’ demand comes at a time when parliament is reconvening to discuss the oil agreements on Monday.
