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Working with Communities
Uganda
Initiating the project
Initial discussions held with local village
chiefs from Kaiso-Tonya communities helped
to identify key problem areas and potential
commercial opportunities. This community
is at the bottom of an escarpment on the
shore of Lake Albert within the Block 2
licence area. There was no meaningful
regional economy, infant mortality rates
were high and safety was a particular issue
for the thousands of fishermen who fish Lake
Albert every day for their food and livelihood.
As a result of these discussions, Tullow
initiatives in this region have been largely
focused on empowering communities and
creating sustainable, effective programmes
centred on access, health, safety, enterprise
and education.
Improving access
The location of the Kaiso-Tonya communities
with few routes out other than by boat meant
that they were effectively cut off from the
outside world, with limited access to medical
facilities or for government aid. Road access
to the drill site and two new airstrips had
to be constructed for our operations in the
region. This has provided access not only
for aid and emergencies, but has also
created a route to market and better prices
for local fishermen, who otherwise lived a
subsistence existence.
Improving health
The drilling operations has brought other
benefits to the communities where some
30 people die each year from water-borne
cholera. The drilling equipment was used
to drill several successful water wells and
pipes were installed to carry fresh water to
the communities. Prior to these wells being
drilled, local women had to walk into the
bush to gather firewood to use when boiling
water from the lake, which is also used for
bathing and washing.
Poor hygiene was a main cause of infant
mortality in the region, where 25% of children
die during child birth. Four simple hygienic
birthing rooms are planned, and one has
already been constructed. Local women and
birthing attendants have been trained in
hygienic birthing methods, and while this
project is still at an early stage, infant
survival rates are already improving.
Improving safety
Few of the thousands of fishermen from
the communities who fish on Lake Albert
are able to swim, and loss of life through
drowning is common. Having identified the
need for life jackets, Tullow has worked in
association with the National Lake Rescue
Initiative in Uganda to resource the relevant
manufacturing skills, which involved local
women being trained in the production of
life jackets. A manufacturing unit was also
set up and the life jackets produced at this
facility have been certified to international
standards. The manufacturing unit also
serves as a lifeboat station for a local lake
rescue team, and the existing lifeboat will
soon be replaced by a new Tullow-sponsored
lifeboat. This initiative has even attracted the
attention of the German Sea Rescue Service
and may be used as a teaching aid for a
Government Search and Rescue Management
Course at the World Maritime University. In
January 2007, two fishermen were rescued
as a result of these initiatives and more lives
have been saved since.
Developing enterprise
Local carpenters were employed for a
number of projects in the region, one of
which has already become a profitable
enterprise. Uganda has a substantial annual
consumption of circa 200 tonnes of honey,
but imports the vast majority of this as
in-country production is approximately
20 tonnes. Local carpenters are building
beehives that are tended by a co-operative
of seven villages that have been trained in
bee-keeping methods. 200 hives are already
in place, with a total of 2,000 planned over
two years. In 2006, which was its first full
year of operation, the co-operative made
a significant profit providing a very positive
economic benefit to the lives of the many
people involved in the project. Sunflower
seeds and fruit trees have also been
distributed throughout the region to help
with nectar production, and to provide
shade and an additional source of food.
Supporting education
Local carpenters have also been employed
in the improvements made to Kyehoro
Primary School, where two new classrooms
have been constructed and furnished
with desks and ancillary teaching aids.
The school has also been provided with
Tullow-sponsored teachers and playground
equipment. A school vegetable garden has
been created and pumpkins, maize, kale,
tomatoes, chillies and papaya have already
been grown.
Sustainable development
In total, US$220,000 has been spent in
the region on a variety of projects designed
to improve the lives of the communities
local to our operations in a manner that
is sustainable, profitable and relevant. We
believe that our involvement in these projects
is indicative of the true value of CSR, where
we share our corporate success with our
neighbours and contribute to sustainable
development of the local communities.
4 Tullow Oil plc Corporate and Social Responsibility Report 2006