Since 2009, Africa has been one of the fastest growing oil regions in the world, accounting for 30% of all new discoveries. As a joint venture between Total and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is setting up its operations around Albert Lake in Uganda, the future of its residents has began to look darker and darker by the day.

On assignment with:

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Uganda, 2019

Published in Le Monde (2021)

Once production is in full swing, the oil will flow through villages, natural reserves, and rivers, and it will be paid for in environmental damage and human rights violations.

Gathering land for oil infrastructure will continue to displace thousands, while the intimidating imbalance of power at play tries to suppress voices of resistance.

This project portrays the people of Albert Lake, who lived there for longer than anyone can remember.

It is about their homes, health and safety. About lost access to drinking water, farming land and fishing grounds. It is about evictions with ridiculously inadequate compensation and the destruction of social structures in communities.

It anticipates the human and environmental cost for the region, even before the oil has begun to flow through pipelines.

On a fact finding mission with human rights lawyers, anthropologists and local activists, we spoke with the communities and authorities of the Albert Lake region to document the impact of Uganda's unfolding oil industry.