The King Fisher Project is a textbook of Example Of A Mutually Beneficial Partnership

by Admin (Posted on October 10, 2022October 10, 2022)

In 2016, the diplomatic relations between China and Uganda assumed a new mile stone when the two nations agreed to elevate their relations to the level of comprehensive co-operation partnership. This meant new heights of co-operation through harmonizing foreign and domestic policies to achieve social- economic transformation and building a community with a shared future in form of a win-win co-operation strategy as a common goal by both states. Through the king fisher oil project in the Albert region, the government of Uganda, contracted the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to spearhead the construction of the site and subsequent oil drilling in the area.

The king fisher project is located in Kikuube and Hoima Districts in the valleys of Buhuuka parish along lake Albert. The first challenge CNOOC inherited was the inaccessibility of the Kingfisher area, surrounded by steep mountains and rocks. The only mode of access was by air or sea. Locals navigated the hostile lands by walking long distances of about 3 hours to reach neighboring villages. However, CNOOC in collaboration with Uganda government helped to construct a standard road through the rocky hills and mountains. This eased access for both company workers and the locals to their respective destinations.

Cross border trade between Uganda and Congo and economic activity within the native local community has also improved since residents can now move to Hoima city more conveniently. The road has also made it possible for cargo to be transported to the landing site designated for neighbouring Congo hence widening Uganda’s exportation capabilities and earning the government revenue. CNOOC directly employs about 280 Ugandans which is about 78 percent of the company’s labour force. Additionally, CNOOC contracts 42 other local contractor companies to handle site development projects which also employ about 1,334 other Ugandans to the project. Ugandan experts and engineers have gained valuable training from CNOOC which is preparing them in the long-term to manage future oil projects.

CNOOC has aided and supported life transforming projects and workshops for the affected communities. These include live stock and crop development program to train famers better farming mechanisms as a surplus to fishing. This has helped alleviate the problems of fish hunting that risk depleting the fish resource. Under the live stock and crop development program, the communities have been enlightened about better ways of farming and a total of 315 affected people engaged in the program. The parish selected 9 farmers that received 9 boram bulls, 10 poultry famer’s groups received 500 chicken each, as well as 9 others that received 5 exotic piglets and boer buck goats. I also learnt that the empowered poultry farmers now supply eggs and chicken to king fishers’ welfare needs department hence earning income that has improved economic status.

CNOOC has also opened up skill workshops to the affected population in Kikuube district. They include Manual skills training fully funded by CNOOC. Many Ugandans have attained welding skills at munteme vocational training Institute and they will be deployed at the construction of the East African crude oil pipeline (EACOP). Others in Hoima city in collaboration with Bunyoro Kingdom have been trained to operate heavy cargo vehicles and a large number have been added to that program and are currently being trained.

The Buhuuka water project scheme was fully funded by CNOOC has transformed the lives of the native affected communities. The water scheme currently supplies local residents with purified and clean water. The water is piped and delivered to the locals. Some of the locals who opted for fully furnished houses instead of cash compensation as resettlement fees, can readily access water through water tanks connected to their houses. The water scheme has alleviated water pollution and its related effects of diseases. Before, the CNOOC led water scheme, the locals were constantly hit by the deadly Bilhazia which seems to have completely been eradicated for now. The community also was availed a health center that extends affordable health services to them. The clean and purified water project is currently being managed by the locals who have been trained by CNOOC engineers on the technicalities of maintaining a complex water scheme.

To conclude, the Kingfisher project run by CNOOC is to a large extent a success story for the collaboration between the Uganda and China peoples. It is a testament to the power of mutual friendship for mutual benefit and underlines China’s commitment to working with developing countries to attain sustainable development and build a community of common prosperity and shared future and prosperity for mankind.

 

Balongoofu Daniel, Research Fellow Sino-Uganda Research Centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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