Residents of Kiryajobyo Village, Gayaza sub –county in Kyankwanzi district are increasingly distressed by the EACOP workers’ diversion of rain water, exacerbating the area’s severe shortage.
The residents believe the workers are blocking rain water just minimize interruptions while carrying out their duties.
This situation has left most of the people worried since most of the water sources dried up and now even the rain water is being diverted.
“Our crops are withering under the scorching sun, and to make matters worse, the constant diversion of rain water has left us struggling to access even water for domestic use ‘’ Nakigozi Madrine one of the residents said .
Nakigozi urged all leaders in the community and the government to step in and address the situation before it worsens further.
Lugambagye Edward, the Kiryajobyo village chairperson pledged to support the residents after carrying out investigation into this matter.
Residents are forced to trek miles in search of water for domestic use, a grueling daily ordeal that adds immense strain to their already challenging lives.
‘’It feels like the focus is entirely on the pipeline construction, leaving our lives and basic needs an afterthought.’’ The residents stated.
Leosan Ssebalunzi says the actions of the oil pipeline workers are not only affecting the environment but also the livelihoods of the residents.
Ssebalunzi pleaded with the workers to halt the inconsiderate diversion of rain water, a move that he says is taking a dire toll on the community, exacerbating an already desperate situation.
The Gayaza sub county Community development officer Amos Byantalo Michael has promised to investigate the matter and take necessary report to the district officials and EACOP.
STORY COMPILED BY JOANNE NTEZA
The East Africa crude oil pipeline, EACOP has had a significant impact on climate change, particularly in the affected districts where the construction of the pipeline is said to have led to the destruction of numerous forests and wetlands, exacerbating environmental vulnerabilities.
The residents of Kikuube,Kyankwanzi and Hoima districts attributed the change in climate to the EACOP.
It should be noted that the during the construction of the pipeline, several forests and wetlands were affected and this might be one of the reason of change of certain climatic aspects in these areas. Forests affected include Taala forest reserve in Kyankwanzi district, Wambabya forest reserve that connects Bugoma and Budongo in Kikuube and Hoima (western Uganda) Bugoma central forest reserve in Kikuube and Hoima districts.
The residents of Hoima, particularly farmers, are grappling with hardships as the scorching sun has withered their crops.
Matovu Peter, a prominent banana farmer in Hoima district, expressed his deep sorrow as his plantation withers under the relentless sun and put the blame on the project.
“I have lost my entire banana plantation to the relentless heat, a harsh shift from the more balanced climate we had before the project”, Matovu explained.
The same hardship is also hitting Kyankwanzi as residents are struggling with water shortage due to the prolonged heat that has drained most of the water sources in the area.
Birungi Margret, a resident of Nabulembeko village, Nabulembeko Parish Wattuba Sub County, says the water crisis gripping their area.
“We are struggling to access water since most of the wells have dried up, and the EACOP officials have deployed machines that block rain water, making it tougher”, Birungi explained, seemingly worried.
The East African Crude oil Pipeline (EACOP) is a mega project intended to transport crude oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert oil fields to the ports of Tanga in Tanzania for export.
The project is a joint venture between total energies, the Uganda national oil company (UNOC), the Tanzania petroleum development corporation (TPDC) and the china national offshore oil company (CNOOC).
Over ten districts are being affected in Uganda and they include Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Kyankwanzi, Gomba, Mubende Llwengo, Ssembabule, Kyotera and Rakai.
STORY COMPILED BY JOANNE NTEZA
Nakyanzi Madrine a resident of Kigoma village Kalagi Sub County in Kyankwanzi district has raised concerns over delayed compensation which has dragged on for four leaving them in limbo.
Nakyanzi says she was initially evaluated in 2021 with promises of payment within six months, but up-to-date no one has received compensation.
She expressed fear that some of them might miss out on the final compensation after some reports indicating that their counterparts in other districts have already been compensated.
Nakyanzi highlighted the hardships she has endured living in a makeshift house for four years due to restrictions on construction by EACOP officials. She has threatened legal action if compensation is not forthcoming.
She says many reports have been made to various authorities in the district but have seen little progress.
She called for fair compensation to cover the four years of waiting, arguing that their lives were disrupted by the project’s implementation.
Asuman Ssembatya, the parish chairperson for Nabulembeko Parish in Kyankwanzi district also the NRM secretary for Kyankwanzi said as a leader he has been following on community issues resulting from displacement arising out of the EACOP.
“We have started writing a petition and an MOU with all the affected PAPs in Kiboga and Kyankwanzi calling for President Museveni to intervene since all the local leaders have failed to help,” Ssembatya said.
Muhindo Brenda also a resident says none of the leaders in the district has help in her having the compensation since the rates were made.
“I have never received any help from the EACOP officials, i have moved from one office at the district level because it’s where i can stop but no one has given me attention. But i thank Community Green radio for standing with us because whenever the officials listen to the voice the come and talk to us giving promises,” Muhindo said.
There are increasing concerns over the increased cases and incidents of gender based violence associated with the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project in Kiboga and Kyankwanzi districts in central Uganda.
Ms. Nakaweesi Juliet, a resident of Lwanda Village in Kiboga district says her relationship with the husband became sour after they were compensated.
“My husband disappeared after l repeatedly asked about the money, leaving me with so many responsibilities,” Nakaweesi told our reporter.
Ms. Nakaweesi says the grace cultivation period is almost over since construction of the pipeline is on and is worried of how she will feed the children.
“l tried to involve the local leaders about this matter, but l didn’t get the justice l hoped for,” she added.
64 year old Kunihira Edinasi, a resident of the same place says she is leaving in fear after her land title was taken by government.
Kunihira is also among those affected by EACOP and her land title was taken with a promise of a swift return, but the wait still continues.
The land title was taken to adjust the portion affected, but it’s now 4 years and still hasn’t been returned.
“I’m worried they might take all my land. I have always used my title as security to borrow money”, she explained.
Kunihira says she attempted to connect with the EACOP officials but sadly she hasn’t received any feedback yet.
She says the compensation she received back then was really minimal compared to the cost of living now since most of properties like a house, trees and other properties were undervalued.
“The government’s support has been quite lacking, leaving us feeling overlooked and uncertain about the whole process”, she added.
Like Nakaweesi and Kunihira, many more women are bearing the weight of taking care of families that they initially shared with their spouses.
Ms. Lydia Nanjere of Kigoma in Kyankwanzi district says she has now spent over a year as a sole family caretaker. He husband disappeared after receiving compensation.
“The day he got money is the last day I saw him. I last heard that he had married another woman in the trading center”, a seemingly depressed Nanjere narrated.
The women say their only hope is in the voice that they raise through the Community Green Radio. The radio has consistently amplified their voices far and wide. They have hope that well-wishers and government will come to their aid after listening to their repeated cries.
The women are appealing to government to quickly intervene and mediate for harmonious living.
COMPILED BY JOAN NTEZA
The residents of Lwabagoma Village, Gogonya Parish in Mubende District in Central Uganda have commended the National Association of Professional Environmentalists, NAPE for the organization’s support to their community particularly through bee keeping sensitization.
The residents made the remarks at the end of November when Mr. David Kureba, the NAPE’s Program Officer in Charge of Forests and Biodiversity made a visit to their area to train them on bee keeping. Mr. Kureba was accompanied by Mr. Basiima Jorum from Kiggaga Cell in oil rich Hoima District in Western Uganda. Mr. Basiima is a bee keeper who has specialized in training other bee keepers.
Mr.Basiima took the residents of Lwabagoma through key beekeeping techniques and how the community can harness the benefits of bee keeping.
“You have to select suitable locations for bee keeping, identifying prime areas for apiaries and the flora resources that support profitable bee keeping ventures”, Mr. Basiima explained to the attentive residents.
He also stressed the critical need for ensuring the safety and security of bee keepers and neighboring communities, highlighting the importance of responsible bee keeping practices and harmonious coexistence.
Mr. Katumba Julius, the area village chairperson and a prominent bee keeper expressed gratitude to NAPE for their tireless efforts in promoting beekeeping in the community.
He also emphasized the importance of putting the skills and knowledge gained into practice and appealed to community members to not only adopt beekeeping but also to teach and mentor others.
Mr. Kureba presented the community members with bee hives, symbolizing commitment to empowering local beekeeping initiatives.
STORY COMPILED BY JOANE NTEZA
Community Green Radio, through the National Association of Professional Environmentalists-NAPE has joined a partnership with other media Organizations, Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) and Diplo brief Kenya aimed at strengthening community media, digital safety and civic engagements ahead of the 2026 general elections in Uganda. The project was orfficially launched on Monday October 13 2025 in Gulu city and is supported by American Jewish World Service -AJWS.
“The community Green radio and NAPE will ensure that partners are acquitted with the legal and compliance requirements for media houses and civic society organization to ensure total compliance during and after elections. The Green radio will also broadcast civic education messages from partners to ensure that citizens front salient issues of environmental justice, land and human rights as campaign demands”, says Mr. Rajab Bwengye Yusufu, the NAPE Ag. Executive Director.
He thanked American Jewish World Service (AJWS), who were represented by Ms.Sheila Muwanga at the launch, for the support to the project. –Ms. Muwanga is the AJWS Uganda Country Representative.
Mr.Bwengye says the project has come as a timely response to the ever deteriorating media freedoms and civic liberties in Uganda calling it a right moment to beef up media digital safety, legal compliance and ensuring that the voice of the voiceless on issues of human and environmental rights abuse find space in the upcoming national election agendas in Uganda.
NAPE was represented at the launch by Kyamanywa Julius the Station Manager of the Community Green Radio.
Other partners in this project include Solidarity Uganda and Friends of Zoka.
The launch was president over by Mr. Onoria Ambrose, the Resident City Commissioner, RCC Gulu city.
Mr.Onoria appealed to partners for cooperation with government during the implementation and assured them of support.
“As government, we are ready to work with you for a free and fair election. We shall provide you with all the necessary support during the implementation”, the RCC stressed.
Mr. Alfred Oryem of NUMEC appealed to partners to try and implement what was stipulated in the project documents and as per the agreements signed. He noted that time has moved but called on partners to try and implement.
The project has five components that include Community Digital Ambassadors Program, Secure Media Hub at NUMEC, “Silent No More” Digital Campaign, Compliance and Amplification and Reporting Grants and Safety Support.
Mrs.Annastinzia Kakooza, a resident of Kaseeta village, Buseruka Sub County in Hoima district is concerned about the growing numbers of people in the area.
She claims this is to due to the East African Crude Oil Pipe line project (EACOP) that attracts so many people to work in the area.
During a community outreach by Community Green radio journalists to this area this month, Mrs. Explained that cases of intermarriages, high cost of living, insecurity and land grabbing are so rampant.
Mrs.Kakooza says the situation has been escalating ever since the discovery of oil with many locals losing their land to the powerful individuals in government who had intention in the EACOP earmarked area.
“Girls nolonger want to go to school since the EACOP workers promise them heaven and earth in exchange for sexual favors and boys prefer working to schooling thus leading to increased cases of school drop outs”, Mrs.Kakooza said.
“We were so much delighted upon hearing the discovery of oil our area because we thought our lives would change, but now we regret”, she added.
Mrs.Kakooza further explained that workers usually trespass in their gardens and take their food sometimes causing damages to the plantations which has resulted into food insecurity in the area with local leaders doing nothing to help the masses.
“The pain of betrayal cuts deep when leaders entrusted to safeguard our well being, appear to side with those causing harm”, she said
She expressed gratitude to the National Association of Professional Environmentalists for their tireless efforts in championing justice and ensuring that the rights of the affected communities are protected.
Story compiled by Joanne Nteza
As the EACOP advances, families are finding themselves torn apart by the disputes over compensation and land rights, their unity frayed by the pressure of displacement and uncertainty.
This discovery was made after a one on one interview with the EACOP affected communities during our out reach in Hoima, western Uganda this month (September)
Ms.Kyalimpa Joy, a resident of Kabaale village, Buseruka sub county in Hoima district disclosed to us that her husband disappeared with the compensation, leaving her to struggle in supporting their.
“We struggled so much with my husband to acquire our land but he vanished after receiving compensation”, Kyalimpa explained.
Kyalimpa said she finds difficuilties in supporting her family since the land for cultivation was taken and the husband disappeared with all the compensation money. Her children no longer go to school since the little she gets can only provide food.
“Doing casual labor on other people’s farms is my only means of survival, and feeding my family. Seeing my children at home during school time breaks me down as a mother”, a seemingly sorrowful Kyalimpa narrated.
Kyalimpa’s quest for justice was met with disappointment when she sought help from the leaders in her community and she is calling on government to intervene in her matters and provide the necessary assistance.
STORY COMPILED BY JOANNE NTEZA
Families must trek nearly 2-3km to fetch stagnant water from unreliable sources within the Kitegwa B in Kabaale Parish Buseruka Sub County in Hoima district.
Kabanyoro Everce a resident of Kitegwa B in Kabaale Parish Buseruka Sub County Hoima District, western Uganda notes that the scarcity has led to social issues, with girls falling prey to men while fetching water, and families facing turmoil as husbands accuse their wives of infidelity when they return late from fetching water.
Kabanyoro laments the lack of access to clean water has forced them to move long treks to fetch water that had not been their problem before the EACOP came.
Another resident Annet Kasolo shares a similar story. She notes that families have bathed in the same poor-quality water for as long as she can remember.
Kasolo further explains that due to the water scarcity, families have resorted to bathing in shifts.
“When people must travel such long distances for water, they find ways to manage. Many families now bathe in shifts; if the husband bathes on Monday, the wife bathes on Tuesday, and the children on Wednesday. Imagine living like that, especially for those who need to go to work. Our appeal to the government is to provide us with modern water sources,” Kasolo said.
“They had constructed five boreholes but per now we only have two functional boreholes in the village and with the population size 2 boreholes is just a drop in the ocean. We appeal to any partners who can help, as the water people are drinking is so bad that you feel sick just thinking about it,” Kasolo added.
She added that many residents frequently fall ill, but they have no choice but to continue using the contaminated water.
The under drilling destroyed most of the water sources and the destruction led to scarcity of water and residents who cannot afford to buy a jerry can at 1000 Uganda shillings have resorted to walking miles in search for water from wells and swamps.
Many community members in the EACOP affected areas had hopes in securing jobs from the project but few were employed.
Nyamahunge Milius, one of the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) says they face job scarcity due to lost livelihoods from land acquisition, which has reduced their access to agricultural land and thus their ability to earn income.
However, EACOP and its partners are implementing livelihood restoration programs, including vocational training and provision of start-up kits, to equip us particularly youth with practical skills for self-employment most of us are left behind.
Nyamahunge says government promised thousands of jobs and local investment surprisingly all was given away to foreign investors who have neglected to give them jobs.
“I expectations that oil would bring economic development but it has hindered our livelihoods since we lost our land which was used to be for farming and it was compensated with little money,” she says.
She thanked NAPE for training them by proving skills of good farming, making local mats and others.
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