Kabaale Sub-County Residents Decry Neglect Amidst Oil Boom

The situation in Kabaale reflects a broader challenge facing Uganda's oil regions – how to ensure local communities share in the benefits of resource extraction. Until this question finds meaningful answers, the paradox of poverty amidst plenty will continue to fuel discontent in the Albertine Graben.  

Kabaale, Hoima District – The people of Kabaale Sub-county find themselves caught in a painful paradox – living in the shadow of multi-billion-dollar oil infrastructure while lacking basic government services. Their frustrations spilt over during a recent community meeting that revealed deep-seated grievances about systemic neglect.  

At the heart of their complaints lies the glaring disconnect between the area's economic potential and its crumbling public services. The sub-county, which hosts Uganda's flagship oil refinery project and an international airport, struggles with healthcare access so dire that residents describe it as life-threatening. John Ayesiga from Bugambe village painted a grim picture of their reality, explaining how families must undertake arduous journeys just to reach the lone Health Centre II facility serving the entire population.  

The education sector fares no better. With only one secondary school serving the sub-county, parents like Jungiere Robert worry about the future of their children. The shortage of schools forces difficult choices – either keep teenagers at home or send them far away for education, often at great financial sacrifice.  

Local leaders acknowledge these failures but seem powerless to effect change. Godfrey Byaruhanga, the sub-county chairperson, and Jovineli Dramani, the chairperson of Kayera village, both expressed frustration at the district's inability to deliver even basic infrastructure, such as proper roads. Their words carried the weight of communities tired of unfulfilled promises.  

Hoima LCV Chairperson Uthman Migisha Kadiri offered the prospect of municipal status as a potential solution, suggesting it could help address administrative limitations. However, residents remain sceptical of bureaucratic fixes, having heard similar assurances before. The scars of broken promises run deep in these villages.  

What makes their plight particularly galling is the visible contrast between their poverty and the gleaming oil projects rising around them. The refinery, airport, and pipeline represent billions in investment, yet local schools crumble, clinics lack supplies, and roads become impassable in the rain. This stark inequality fuels growing resentment among a population that feels excluded from Uganda's oil dreams.  

As the meeting concluded, residents issued a clear call to action. They demand immediate upgrades to healthcare facilities, proper roads connecting their villages, and schools capable of serving their children. Most importantly, they want tangible benefits from the oil projects transforming their land. Their message to the government is simple: development must serve the people who host it, not just distant investors and urban elites.  

The situation in Kabaale reflects a broader challenge facing Uganda's oil regions – how to ensure local communities share in the benefits of resource extraction. Until this question finds meaningful answers, the paradox of poverty amidst plenty will continue to fuel discontent in the Albertine Graben.