The development of the Tilenga oil project in Uganda has required land from 4,954 households across Buliisa, Hoima, and Kikuube districts in the Lake Albert region, with over 99 percent of affected families now reported to have received compensation, according to an independent assessment released by TotalEnergies on March 6, 2026.
The assessment, conducted by Canadian firm Land & People Planning Ltd., details the implementation of the project’s compensation and resettlement programme. Between 2022 and late 2024, the project acquired 2,108 acres (just over 850 hectares) to advance operations, including drilling for approximately 400 oil wells across six fields. Of the affected households, 205 primary residents have been relocated to newly built homes under the resettlement programme, all of which have been completed and handed over.
“Most land compensation agreements have been finalised, and payments completed,” the report said, adding that authorities and project operators are continuing livelihood support programmes for the communities impacted by the development.
Tilenga is part of Uganda’s broader oil export strategy and is linked to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which will transport crude from Lake Albert to the Tanzanian port of Tanga for international export. Construction of the 1,443-kilometre pipeline is reported to be around 80 percent complete, with both Tanzania and Uganda targeting a first oil shipment by July 2026. Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania recently reaffirmed this timeline following bilateral talks.
Despite these milestones, the Tilenga project has faced sustained criticism from local communities and non-governmental organisations over its land acquisition process. In 2019, NGOs including Friends of the Earth France filed a lawsuit in French courts challenging both Tilenga and EACOP under France’s 2017 Duty of Vigilance Law, which obliges multinational companies to identify and mitigate social and environmental risks linked to their overseas operations.
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The plaintiffs argued that TotalEnergies failed to implement sufficient safeguards for communities and the environment around Lake Albert. The initial complaint was dismissed on procedural grounds by a Paris civil court in February 2023, without addressing the substantive allegations. A new legal challenge was subsequently filed in June 2023, with 26 residents seeking damages for loss of land or damage to homes. The case remains under judicial review.
TotalEnergies, together with partners CNOOC and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), has emphasised the project’s economic and strategic importance. Tilenga is considered a flagship development for Uganda’s oil industry, aiming to generate substantial revenue while enabling the country to become a key regional energy exporter. According to the company, the project is designed to ensure compliance with international environmental and social standards, including resettlement and compensation for affected households.
The land compensation programme represents one of the largest such undertakings in Uganda’s oil sector. Independent observers note that transparent compensation and timely resettlement are critical for maintaining local support and mitigating social risk, especially given the scale of the project and its integration with the EACOP pipeline.
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Beyond resettlement, the Tilenga project includes ongoing community support programmes aimed at sustaining livelihoods and infrastructure development. These initiatives cover housing, access to basic services, and training opportunities, reflecting TotalEnergies’ stated commitment to social responsibility in host communities.
As Uganda prepares to reach first oil in July 2026, the completion of compensation and resettlement for nearly 5,000 households underscores the scale of the challenge and the importance of addressing community concerns alongside technical and logistical project milestones. While legal and environmental scrutiny continues, the Tilenga oil project remains central to Uganda’s ambition to establish itself as a major player in East Africa’s energy sector.
