Abstract:
The study was carried out in Kigweera sub county of Buliisa district. It examined the social economic and environmental impacts of oil exploration activities on communities in Kigweera Sub County.
The study employed a descriptive research design and both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Primary data was collected using questionnaires in self-administered interviews, interviews of key resource persons and observations. Secondary data was collected by reviewing Buliisa district development plans, district statistical abstracts, district environmental reports, journals among others. In total there were 92 respondents, of which 36 were female and 56 males. These were youth and old people. The collected data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 20. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted on the data. Inferential statistics included a chi-square test.
The study findings showed that oil exploration activities had negative effects such crop destruction, smoke from machines, dust from road construction, displacement from their farmlands, delayed compensation for land. lost, loss of thatching materials for their huts, land conflicts between the local communities and the oil exploration companies. Other findings included ignorance on their land fights, oil exploration policies, environmental policies, loss of livelihoods.
It is concluded that oil exploration activities in Kigweera sub county had more negative effects than positive. It is therefore recommended that the local communities be sensitized on their land rights, oil exploration policies, environmental policies and alternative sources of livelihoods.
Also; the local communities should be compensated proportionate to the actual market value of the land lost. Furthermore, the government should assist the local communities to acquire titling on their lands.
