EACOP affected communities in Kyankwanzi to petition Ugandan President over their concerns

Friday, December 12th, 2025 | By

Community members affected by the East African Oil Crude Pipeline, EACOP in Kyankwanzi district central Uganda are preparing to petition President Yoweri Museveni over their concerns.These concerns range from delayed compensation, undervaluing of their property and cases of coercing during signing of compensation documents.

Mr. Museveni, who is also the chairperson of the ruling National Resistance Movement, NRM party, will be in Kyankwanzi on December 16 to canvass for votes for his re-election in the January 15 2026 presidential elections in Uganda.

Asuman Ssembatya, who is the NRM Party General Secretary in Kyankwanzi District, says local leaders have prepared a Memo that they will present to the president. He says issues affecting EACOP PAPs are part of the Memo.

“In our memo to the president, issues of people affected by EACOP are fully catered for. As a ruling party member and as a leader of the PAPs, I couldn’t let this opportunity pass without airing issues of my people”, Mr.Ssembatya asserted.

Mr. Ssembatya made the remarks while appearing on Community Green Radio show aimed at amplifying the voices of communities affected by the oil and gas infrastructure, the EACOP in particular.

Communities affected by the EACOP in Kyankwanzi are struggling to run families. Those who got compensation, it was insufficient to sustain them and those who are waiting for compensation are suffering since it has delayed.

Some affected people are so desperate and losing hope of getting their compensation.

Communities affected by oil and gas infrastructures are compensated after their properties are assessed and valued by government. Compensation rates are proposed and drafted by respective district local governments and approved by the chief government valuer.  Affected communities have consistently complained of under valuation of their property and delay in compensation.

The EACOP, a USD 5 billion mega infrastructure project, will serve as a conduit for transporting Uganda’s crude oil from the Albertine Graben, starting at Kabaale in Hoima District, to Tanzania’s Tanga Port, where it will be shipped to international markets once completed.

According to the government of Uganda, as of 30^th August last year, the EACOP had compensated 97% of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in the country.

Community Green Radio (CGR) has been giving a voice to the project affected persons, PAPs, to demand for their rights by amplifying their voices