A family whose houses developed cracks in the walls after Total passed through their land while collecting seismic data last year is calling on the oil company to compensate them for their loss. Two of the family members...have been forced to re-build their houses after it became apparent that they were near to collapse...The area Local Council Chairman, Onegi Joseph, told Oil in Uganda that prior to commencing work in the area, officials from Total inspected the ten grass-thatched houses in the family compound to ascertain their condition...[An] e-mail response from the company’s Kampala office acknowledged Total’s presence in the area last year. “It is true that Total E&P Uganda carried out seismic operations in Alui sub-county, Nebbi district last year,” read the statement signed by Ahlem Friga-Noy, the corporate affairs manager. “However, as part of our policy we always ensure that seismic operations are not carried out within 50 meters of any structures...Total cannot be accountable for cracks appearing two months after completion of the seismic activity...