The fossil fuel investments were led by France's TotalEnergies and China's CNOOC, but involved numerous other Western (including European, British, American and Australian) and other Chinese companies, and are presented as engines of economic development.
Through sub-contracts, often worth millions, and sometimes through joint ventures, the multinationals have worked directly with companies owned by Ugandan politically exposed persons - often hidden through shell companies - allowing these elites to enrich themselves.
It also exposes links to shell companies in tax havens and the revolving doors between corporations and government agencies.
Through an investigation that led to the acquisition and analysis of over 12,000 internal documents from various companies involved in the oil project, the team uncovered how a ruling elite has seized a significant share of the oil project's wealth.
Photo: Preparatory drilling for TotalEnergies' Tilenga project in the Murchison Falls Natural Park. © Thomas Bart
