Oil Discovery And Land Conflicts In Hoima District: A Case Of Buseruka Sub-County

 ABSTRACT

The study focused on the relationship between oil exploration activities and lard conflicts in

Buseruka Sub-county. The study objectively sought to; examine the extent to which seismic surve~

activities contribute to land conflicts in Buseruka Sub-county in Hoima district; to assess how

exploratory well drilling activities contribute to land conflicts in Buseruka Sub-county in

Hoima district; and, to find out how building of roads contributes to land conflicts in Buseruka

Sub-county in Hoima district. The study employed descriptive and Correlational research design.

A sample of 158 respondents was selected using purposive and simple random sampling

teclmiques. Both quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (interviewing) data collection

approaches were used. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists

(SPSS) and MS Excel software package to generate descriptive and inferentia’ ~tistics. The

findings of the study were that a strong positive relationship (r=. 703 * *, p

seismic survey activities and land conflicts, (r.603**, p

activities and land conflicts, (r=.503**, p

Respondents never appreciated the role played by the government in combating land conflicts or

remained predominantly negative. In conclusion oil exploration activities had negative effects on

the people of Buseruka sub-County to a large extent, therefore the researcher calls upon the oil

exploration companies, government and the indigenous people who remain incompatible in goals

to foster a sustainable peace building mechanism in oil exploration. The study recommends that

oil exploration companies should collaborate with the government, community and develop a comprehensive monitoring system and the urgent need for understanding conflict management

methods like early warning mechanisms by the government official LOCAL