Global outrage as Total starts oil drilling in Murchison Falls National Park

In a shocking development, TotalEnergies has started oil drilling activities in Uganda's cherished Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) posing a severe threat to the park's biodiversity, its status as a beloved tourist destination, and the very foundation of Uganda's economy.

The park has been a significant contributor to Uganda's economy, accounting for a staggering 59% of the country's exports and generating USD 1.047 billion in revenue in 2022 alone. By venturing into oil drilling, MFNP's essential contributions to Uganda's socioeconomic fabric now hang in the balance.

The park is home to 76 animal species, including the famed elephants, lions, and giraffes, as well as over 450 bird species, resulting in a one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable ecology. Notably, the park includes the Murchison Falls-Albert Delta Wetland System, a Ramsar Site of worldwide significance and an important spawning habitat for Lake Albert fisheries. Total's oil drilling operations, therefore, pose a major threat to Uganda's fishing sector.

The devastating impacts of oil activities on wildlife are already evident, as fleeing elephants venture into neighboring communities, destroying crops, and posing threats to human lives. Tragically, women and children in Buliisa district, where MFNP is partly located, have lost their lives due to Total's Tilenga oil project activities.

Stop EACOP members, environmental groups, and concerned activists worldwide have vehemently condemned TotalEnergies and its partners for their reckless pursuit of oil drilling in MFNP. Despite the global urgency to protect such high biodiversity and sensitive ecosystems and reduce fossil fuel reliance, TotalEnergies continues to prioritize profit over environmental and socioeconomic consequences. Read the StopEACOP campaign’s full press release here.