An ethical assessment of corporate environmental responsibility practices of Oil Companies in Uganda: case studies of Hoima, Buliisa and Kikuube districts.

Abstract

The purpose of this multiple-case study research design, was to make an ethical assessment of the current Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) practices of oil companies in Hoima, Kikuube and Buliisa districts, of the Albertine region. The specific objectives set were: To assess the critical environmental impacts of the oil and gas exploration and production activities in Hoima, Buliisa and Kikuube districts; To assess the extent to which oil /gas exploration and production companies in Hoima, Buliisa and Kikuube districts comply with the existing International/National Ethical Standards and to generate recommendations towards more CER practices by oil companies in the oil /gas exploration industry. The researcher used qualitative data collection methods, specifically; interviewing, documentary review, and observation methods. The results mostly revealed the following: there is environment abuse/degradation manifesting in different forms, as a result of the oil and gas exploration and production in the Albertine region; The overall outcome from findings on compliance by oil companies with the environmental, oil and gas legislations in safeguarding the environment is that, there is lack of awareness by all stakeholders on the said legislations; different forms of legislations are weak and obsolete; enforcement of the said legislations weak, inadequate involvement and participation of the community in oil and gas activities; corruption in the enforcement of the legislations in place. The overall result of the findings on the integration of CER practices in oil and gas activities in safeguarding the environment is that, most people in the area do not have facts on the oil companies' deeds; oil companies are not doing CER activities to safeguard the environment, making them fall short of meeting the demands of environmental ethics; Oil companies' visibility in safe guarding the environment is lacking. The researcher recommends: a call for collective efforts to have consensus by all stakeholders involved, on appropriate environment protection interventions, to avert the likely impacts of global warming being witnessed amidst this lucrative investment; oil and gas legislations and Institutions that are meant to operationalize the Oil and Gas exploration and production activities in Uganda, should be harmonized with the International and Regional Oil and Gas Treaties and Conventions, and should be fulfilled by all countries involved; strengthen institutions capacity mandated to enforce the said legislations in Uganda; At the International level, there is still need to review both environmental, Oil and Gas Treaties and Conventions, that are applicable to all oil producing countries, to address the environmental concerns such as Global warming and pollution.