The project will result in an estimated 34 million tons of extra CO2 per year, topping the annual emissions of Uganda and Tanzania combined.

The companies leading the project are "staying quiet on the crucial question of where the money will come from", activists say.

The international financial organization is a major shareholder in a British insurance company underwriting oil projects in Uganda and Tanzania that may impact a nature reserve and more than 120,000 people.

In a letter to fossil fuel companies and government, a coalition of community groups warn of impacts to wildlife, livelihoods, and the climate if oil exploration goes forward.

After years of uncertainty, communities are demanding proper compensation from major oil companies who will soon begin construction of a major pipeline through their land.