Tilenga at the Crossroads: Can Uganda’s Oil Ambitions Coexist with Conservation?

As Uganda’s oil projects in the Albertine Graben accelerate, conservation remains a pressing concern. While critics warn of habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict, regulators and oil companies insist that mitigation measures are keeping nature safe.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), and TotalEnergies EP Uganda have all provided recent updates, painting a picture of delicate coexistence between drilling rigs and the rich biodiversity of Murchison Falls National Park and its surrounding areas.

UWA Emphasizes Wildlife Protection

UWA insists that conservation is not being sacrificed on the altar of oil. Speaking to the press recently, UWA spokesperson Bashir Hangi said wildlife populations around oil exploration zones are stable and in some cases growing.

“Wildlife numbers are increasing in oil exploration zones due to deliberate mitigation efforts,” Hangi said. “We have invested heavily in measures such as electric fencing to reduce human-wildlife conflict. We set standards for exploration activities and have seen improvements in compliance.”

According to UWA, collaboration with oil companies and regulators has led to stricter standards, habitat restoration, and better monitoring of animal movement patterns.

PAU Highlights Innovations in Oil Operations

The Petroleum Authority of Uganda has also defended oil activities inside sensitive ecosystems. PAU field monitor Alex Makambura Atukukwase, stationed at one of the Tilenga project sites, highlighted innovations that reduce disturbance to wildlife.

“The silent oil rig has enabled a safe environment for wildlife,” Atukukwase explained. “Animals around the well pad come close to the fence, which shows minimal disturbance. Our role is to ensure the safety of people, the environment, and the animals.”

The Authority maintains that continuous oversight, alongside environmental monitoring programs, is key to ensuring oil extraction coexists with conservation.

TotalEnergies Commits to Restoration and Monitoring

TotalEnergies EP Uganda, the lead operator of the Tilenga oil project, says it has gone beyond compliance to actively restore habitats. The company’s biodiversity manager, David Ochanda, outlined steps being taken.

“We are using silent rigs to keep noise levels low, careful light management, and vegetated soil bund walls to minimize disturbance,” Ochanda said. “We have restored over 217 hectares of disturbed land and mapped our operations to avoid breeding grounds and migration corridors.”

Ochanda also pointed to GPS tracking of elephants, which he said shows minimal changes in movement patterns since 2012. He acknowledged, however, that crop raiding and other conflicts are natural migration challenges rather than direct oil impacts.

A Debate That Won’t Go Away

Despite assurances, civil society groups such as AFIEGO argue that oil activities are driving habitat fragmentation and worsening human-wildlife conflict. Recent reports highlight fears that “net biodiversity gain” targets may be more corporate rhetoric than reality.

For now, Tilenga remains a balancing act, one where every drill, every rig, and every fence must answer to both energy ambitions and conservation promises.