Migration, Socio-economic Relations and Oil Discovery in the Albertine Region of Bunyoro Kingdom: A Historical Reflection

This chapter examines the dynamics of migration in the Albertine region of Uganda, with a special focus on the Bunyoro area within the context of oil discovery in the region. It argues that the Albertine region began receiving a spontaneous inflow of migrants immediately after traces of oil were found in the region. This inflow of migrant population created social, economic, and political tensions, which characterised the social and economic spaces, which became spaces of contestation. Nevertheless, these spaces were also theatres in which social, political, and economic relations were formed between the host community the Banyoro and other migrant communities, including the Alur, Banyankole, and the Bakiga, among others. The chapter considers the deep-rooted hostilities, power relations, and silent wars between migrant communities and the host community. The chapter concludes that the prospect of oil discovery in the Albertine region not only opened this region up to the rest of Uganda and the world, but also initiated some infrastructural and other forms of economic, social, and political developments within the region.