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Uganda: Soldiers reportedly burn fishing boats and arrest villagers near CNOOC's Kingfisher oil operations; incl. co. non-response
According to Just Finance International, on January 16, 2024, Ugandan soldiers burned fishing boats and equipment essential to local livelihoods near CNOOC's Kingfisher oil and gas project, escalating ongoing disputes over the development's impacts. The incident, which Just Finance International reports deprived hundreds of villagers of their primary income source and led to arrests, is the latest in a series of grievances related to the Kingfisher project, including forced displacement, inadequate compensation, environmental damage, and military intimidation around Lake Albert.
As the leading project proponent in the Kingfisher oil development area, CNOOC has a responsibility to call for the end of the use of excessive forces by the Ugandan government in annihilating the only source of livelihood of the local project-affected fisher families. The extreme violations run counter to China’s state commitment for the security and prosperity for the local population when CNOOC began the projectWawa Wang, Director of Just Finance International
In March, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited CNOOC to respond to the article and the statement. It did not.