The EACOP affected people in Hoima district in western part of Uganda have expressed deep disappointment with their political leaders and expressed a sense of betrayal by politicians who once promised to tackle their issues and now appear unresponsive and unaccountable.
In our community outreach in Hoima’s EACOP-affected areas, residents openly expressed profound disappointment towards their leaders.
During the outreach, residents revealed that politicians had made promises to address their key issues, including fair compensation, property revaluation, and restoration of land titles, but now they appear completely unphased by their plight.
‘’They promised us that our issues would be addressed promptly once they took office, but so far, we have seen no concrete action”, explained Mr. James Baguma of Buseruka in Hoima.
Sylvia Kemigisa of Kaiso says the leaders have only capitalized on consolidating their positions through peddling lies.
“When you call them to account, they extend the blame to central government yet they had promised to work towards resolving our issues”, she explained.
During our discussion, residents revealed that food insecurity is one of the major challenges they face, stemming from restrictions imposed by EACOP that limit them to planting quick-maturing crops like bananas, worsening their food situation .
They revealed that most of the water sources have dried up due to climate change, which they attribute to EACOP’s actions, making water access tough.
Despite all these challenges, residents revealed they have nowhere to run to, since even their elected leaders seem unbothered. Their only hope is now pinned on the government, as they anxiously wait for intervention in these pressing matters.
However the resident district commissioner (RDC) of Hoima Rodgers Mbabazi confirms he is aware of what the residents are going through and has vowed to collaborate with EACOP officials together with the government to ensure that justice is served.
Residents of Nabulembeko parish, Wattuba sub county Kyankwanzi district expected to reap big from the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, EACOP.
They hoped for better education, jobs, good roads, health services and business opportunities.
They believed the pipeline would change their lives for the better.
According to Nuru Muyima, a resident of the area, the first expectation was about education. She expected Kikajjo Primary school, with over 400 leaners to be upgraded.
She also expected new schools with enough classrooms, desks and computer laboratories for their children.
“We saw on TV how oil helped other countries build schools. We told ourselves, our children will now study like children in Kampala (Uganda’s Capital)”, she narrated her expectations.
Parents imagined bursaries and scholarships for bright students who could not afford secondary school tuition. They hoped the pipeline company would support Kikajjo Primary with books, science equipment, and teacher housing.
Today Nabulembeko primary school still has 6 classrooms. Parents say no one from the pipeline project has visited the school to ask what the school requires.
“Oil means development. For the parish like Nabulembeko that had only murram roads and one government secondary school, the word development carried big dreams”, asserted Mr. Kizito David of Kikajjo village.
The residents expected jobs for their members. Kikajjo has many youth without work. They instead wonder around the area and can’t find any meaning source of employment. With the advent of the EACOP, they heard phrases like employment, skills training and local content.
Sharif Byekaso, a youth from Nabidondolo says that when construction started many jobs went to people from outside Kyankwanzi and their expectation of steady jobs turned into no hopes.
Anna Marry Kityo, a mother of five dreamt of pregnant women reaching Health Centers without pain from bumpy roads.
Nabulembeko parish does not have a health center, the nearest being Kikolimbo Health Center III, 8km away. It has no doctor with few drugs and no ambulance. Women give birth at home with help of traditional birth attendants.
The residents expected a big project like the EACOP to come with emergency of developed trading centers for business. Instead, there are growing emergency of substandard structures housing majorly urban poor youth.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is a 1,443km insulated pipeline transporting Ugandan crude oil from Kabaale (Hoima) to Tanzania’s Tanga port, with 296km in Uganda. It traverses 10 Ugandan districts, including Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Kyankwanzi, Gomba, Mubende, Lwengo, Sembabule, Kyotera, and Rakai.
STORY COMPILED BY GERALD SSENKOOMI
As Uganda moves closer to first oil production, expected next year, you would expect every citizen to be upbeat with the news. However, this is not the story with the women living in areas where the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, EACOP will pass.
The women in the areas of Kiboga, Kyankwanzi and Hoima say the suffering occasioned on them by the EACOP is unprecedented and there is a lot of hopelessness.
The grass root women, who convened in a meeting organized by the National Association of professional environmentalists, NAPE in May this year in Kiboga District Central Uganda, said they are still grappling with the impacts of the construction of the pipeline.
The women say the suffering is being facilitated by the delayed compensation, under valuation of their property leading to meager compensation but also climate change that has made their lives even worse.
“I can no longer grow perennial crops like I used to do before the EACOP project which has made my life misearable”Narrates elderly Regina Maria Namere of Nabulembeko village in Kyankwanzi.
Anna Mary Kityo of Kikajjo village in Kyankwanzi says life is becoming miserable because even their husbands abandoned families.
“There are now many homes being managed by women under hard conditions. Some men abandoned their homes for trading centers after getting compensation money. People were not given enough financial literacy and misused the money”, explains Mrs. Kityo.
In the meantime, these women are devising means of surviving and sustaining their families.
Betty Kampiire a resident of Kabaale village Kabaale sub county Hoima district says they have resorted to Kitchen gardening, poultry farming, and other small businesses as a way of surviving.
“From my small village saving, I started with three chickens and now I own a chicken farm of twenty”, she explained.
The women have also engaged in serious planting of indigenous tree species and fruit trees as a way of surviving drought that they say has been stimulated by the construction of the EACOP.
The meeting in Kiboga closed with a radio talk show at the Community Green Radio where the Project Affected Persons shared their survival skills with the listeners from different parts of Uganda mostly Central and Western.
In women affected by the EACOP hailed NAPE and the Community Green Radio for always standing with them and giving them the opportunity to express themselves whenever need arises.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project is approximately 75% to 84% complete. The $4 billion, 1,443km pipeline—which stretches from Hoima in Uganda to the Chongoleani Peninsula in Tanga, Tanzania—is in its final stages of construction .It covers ten districts in Uganda including Kyankwanzi and Hoima in Central and western Uganda respectively.
STORY COMPILED BY OLIVER NYAMAHUNGE
The narrative of motherhood is rapidly evolving in Uganda, especially among younger generations. It’s increasingly common to encounter women in their early twenties identifying as single mothers, a significant shift from earlier eras when early motherhood outside of marriage was often linked to defilement or lack of access to family planning. Although increased access to reproductive health information was expected to reduce unintended pregnancies, the reality is more complex. (https://rightforeducation.org/2025/09/05/understanding-the-rise-of-single-mothers-in-uganda/)
The number of single mothers in Uganda has significantly increased. Single mothers aged 18-35 rose from 20% to 30%, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics 2024 report. (https://www.dw.com/en/ugandas-rising-single-motherhood-rate/audio-71891970
Ms. Lillian Namuwaya of Kiboga in central Uganda says her former drunkard husband had turned her into a punching bag every day which affected her mentally and physically.
“My husband would force my children and I to sleep outside on an empty stomach whenever he got drunk”, Namuwaya explained while appearing on the Community Green Radio gender show, Nyinabwenge.
Namuwaya explained how her husband would beat her to nearly death whenever she asked for anything such as food, school and medical fees.
Janet Babirye says he journey to single motherhood was fueled by poverty.
“We reached a point where we couldn’t afford basic needs in a home like clothing, food and medical care and asking for any of them would cause huge misunderstanding. I decided to move on and fend for my children”, Babirye narrated to the listeners.
These mothers explain how hard it is to be a single mother and how they are struggling with their children. There numerous bills for feeding, school dues and medical bills. They say they have been forced to go extra miles working tirelessly to make sure they improvise for their children.
They, however, commend the National Association of Professional Environmentalists, NAPE and the Community Green Radio for improvising them with personal skills like poultry keeping, kitchen gardening and bee keeping that has enabled them and their respective communities to afford reasonable livelihoods.
The community Green Radio was founded in 2014 with an aim of amplifying the voices of the grassroots communities especially women.
Compiled by Oliver Nyamahunge
Communities in Kiboga and Kyankwanzi districts are being argued to plant more trees if they are to keep their environment safe and healthy.
Henry Lubanjwa, the Assistant Resident district commissioner, RDC (Presidents representative in the district) for Kiboga says trees protect the environment but also offer other benefits of providing shades, soil conservation and improved air quality.
“We need more trees to regulate our climate, protect our water sources and support agriculture. Without trees, we are exposing ourselves to drought, floods and soil erosion,” the President’s representative explained.
Mr. Lubanjwa made the remarks while officiating as chief guest at the launch of the Forests and Wetlands Restoration Promotion Program held at the office of the Community Green Radio in Kiboga District at the end of last month.
The launch was organized by the National Association of Professional environmentalists, NAPE and attracted a host of local leaders from the districts, technical staff, cultural leaders and staff from the African Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability, AIBIS. AIBIS are partners with NAPE in the implementation of the Sustainable Conservation of Nabakazi Wetland Ecosystem for Carbon Sequestration Enhanced Household Food Security and Improved Community Livelihoods in Coffee Producing District of Mubende.
Prominent at the launch were AIBIS Executive Director, Allan Kalangi, Kiboga Town Council Chairperson Henry Kagali, Kiboga district agriculture Officer Bugembe Musa Ssegujja, Kiboga District Forestry Officer Ms. Margret Nanyonga and the district Police commander Jjingo Julius.
Buganda Kingdom representative at the function, the Sabawaali for Kapeke Parish, Mr. Johbosco Ssenyondo called on the communities to take an active role in environmental conservation by planting and taking care of trees in their homes, schools and public places.
“We have a responsibility to protect our environment for future generations. Let’s work together to restore our forests and wetlands”, Ssenyondo said.
Kiboga town council Chairperson Henry Kagali revealed how some business people are largely responsible for the continued degrading of the environment through clearing forests and reclaiming wetlands. He underscored the need to collectively deal with the perpetrators.
“We need to hold accountable those who cut down trees without permission and destroy our wetlands. We need to work together to protect our environment”, Kagali said.
The Executive Director at AIBIS, Allan Kalangi expressed optimism that their partnership with NAPE in the implementation of the project will yield fruit given that the two organizations are grounded in communities and both have experience in this work.
“NAPE and AIBIS are two organizations with immense experience in conservation work and that will be vital in the implementation of this project. Secondly, the two organizations have a long history of working with communities and that is key in the implementation process”, Mr. Kalangi explained.
David Kureeba, The Senior Program Coordinator Forests, Biodiversity and Climate Change at NAPE explained that Forests and Wetlands Restoration Promotion Program is aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems, promote sustainable land use practices and enhance community resilience to climate change.
He added that the program will involve tree planting, wetland restoration, and environmental education.
“We will work with communities to establish tree nurseries, plant trees and maintain them. We will also support communities to develop sustainable land use plans and implement climate-smart agriculture practices,” Kureeba said.
Mr. Kureeba said the Community Green Radio will play a central role in creating awareness but also will act as a platform for debate on how best forests can be restored and wetlands promoted.
The launch climaxed with a tree-planting ceremony at Community Green Radio, symbolizing the start of a new chapter in environmental conservation.
Forest Restoration & Wetland Promotion Program Is a community-based environmental initiative focused on reversing land degradation while promoting the value and sustainable use of natural ecosystems. It’s also a coordinated set of activities that do bring back trees and ecological health to degraded, deforested, or bare land. Wetland Promotion – Protecting existing wetlands and restoring damaged ones, while educating people on why wetlands matter for water, climate, and livelihoods. Forests and wetlands work together as a water system. Forests on hillsides slow rainwater, reduce erosion, and recharge groundwater. Wetlands in valleys filter that water, store it, and release it slowly into the aquifers.
Uganda loses approximately 122,000 hectares of forest land annually, with forest cover decreasing from 24% in the 1990s to roughly 13% recently. This is largely caused by Unregulated Logging and Timber Demand, Urbanization and Infrastructure Expansion, Weak Governance & Land Tenure Issues, Biomass Energy Demand, High Population Growth & Poverty, Agricultural Expansion among others.
Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests, with approximately 35% of global wetlands lost between 1970 and 2015. Driven by agricultural expansion, urbanization, and climate change, this rapid degradation threatens biodiversity and reduces critical carbon sinks, with the highest rates of loss occurring in developing nations. Nearly a quarter of remaining wetlands are in poor ecological condition. In Uganda, wetland coverage declined from roughly 15.5% in 1994 to approximately 8.9%–9.3% in 2024–2025. The major trends and drivers include; Rapid Urban and Industrial growth, encroachment, Institutional and Legal Weaknesses. Wetlands and forests don’t work in isolation. Their environmental services work in complementarity.
STORY COMPILED BY SSENKOOMI GERALD AND KYAMANYWA JULIUS
The EACOP affected people in Hoima district in western part of Uganda expressed their concerns with deep disappointment and sense of betrayal, as politicians who once promised to tackle their issues now appear unresponsive and unaccountable.
In our community outreach in Hoima’s EACOP-affected areas in March this year, community members openly expressd disappointment towards their leaders.
Community members revealed that politicians had made promises to address their key issues, including fair compensation, property revaluation, and restoration of land titles, but now they appear completely unphased by their plight.
‘’They promised us that our issues would be addressed promptly once they took office, but so far, we’ve seen no concrete action”, They narrated .
During our discussion, residents revealed that food insecurity is one of the major challenges they face, stemming from restrictions imposed by EACOP that limit them to planting slow-maturing crops like bananas, worsening their food situation .
They revealed that most of the water sources have dried up due to climate change, which they attribute to EACOP’s actions, making water access tough.
Despite all these challenges, residents revealed they have nowhere to run to, since even their elected leaders seem unburdened.
They only hope is now pinned on the government, as they anxiously wait for intervention in these pressing matters.
However the resident district commissioner (RDC) of Hoima Rodgers Mbabazi confirms he’s aware of what the residents are going through and has vowed to collaborate with EACOP officials together with the government to ensure that justice is served.
Delayed compensation remains a significant challenge for communities impacted by EACOP –project.
This was revealed during a community outreach in the EACOP project affected areas of Kyankwanzi, Kikuube and Hoima where residents shared continue to share stories of continued struggle and maneuvers.
Theresa Bamuteze , an 80-year-old woman from Basangazi village, Nabulembeko parish, Kyankwanzi district, shared a heartbreaking story of how she still awaits compensation, despite officials having her properties valued years ago.
Teresa said she’s made numerous visits to EACOP officials, but all she’s told is to wait, leaving her with uncertainty and a sense of being stuck.
“They valued all my land, my plantations but I still haven’t received my money. I’ve got my papers, everything is clear, but I’m still waiting. And when I try to follow up with officials, all I’m told is to wait.” Theresa said.
Theresa has now called on political leaders and the government to intervene in the matter. She’s urging them to step in and help resolve the issue of delayed compensation payments.
She however credited the Community Green Radio and National Association of Professional Environments (NAPE) for their tireless efforts to ensure the community gets justice.
Ssembatya Suleiman, Chairperson Nabulembeko Parish, Kyankwanzi district, stated that most of the residents are still waiting for compensation, while a few who received payments are disputing the amounts and seeking revaluation.
He revealed that he constantly gets complaints from residents about delayed compensation, but when they try to follow up with EACOP officials, they’re told to wait.
Despite numerous complaints from affected residents, EACOP officials have remained silent about the situation and seem to have failed to give the necessary assistance.
The East African Crude oil Pipeline (EACOP) is a mega project that is intended to transport crude oil from Uganda’s Albertine region in Kikuube district western part of Uganda to Tanga port in Tanzania.
The Albertine Journalists’ Platform, in collaboration with National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) and Community Green Radio, organized a media capacity enhancement training “Basics of Reporting and Documenting Stories on EACOP Impacts.
The workshop was held at Atkon Hotel, Kiboga, on Monday, 9th March, with media practitioners from different media houses from the Albertine region such Paradigm FM, KDR FM, KKCR FM, Liberty FM, Spice FM, Kazzi Njema and Community Green Radio, participated.
The workshop was aimed at equiping journalists with the basics of reporting and documenting stories on the impacts of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
John Kibego from Kazzi Njema, who facilitated the training, reminded journalists about the basics of news writing and reporting, stressing the importance of accuracy, balance, fairness, clarity, and timeliness.
He stressed getting both sides of the story before diving in, emphasizing the need for balance and fairness.
Journalists explored the East African Crude Oil Pipeline’s environmental risks, impacted areas, and possible solutions, among other key issues.
Kagali Henry, the guest of honor and Mayor of Kiboga Town Council, thanked the Community, Green Radio and NAPE for hosting such a impactful workshop that equipped journalists with vital skills.
He urged journalists to prioritize fairness and balance in their reporting, ensuring accurate and impartial storytelling.
The Albertine Journalists’ Platform (AJOP) was formed by Community Green Radio in collaboration with National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE), aiming to empower journalists from the Albertine region.
It involves media houses such as liberty FM, spice, Paradigm FM, KDR FM, KKCR, Liberty FM, Spice FM, Kazzi Njema and Community Green Radio all from the Albertine region.
The EACOP-affected women are appealing to government of Uganda to revalue their properties because they feel the initial valuation wasn’t fair and that even the cost of living has greatly changed.
The issue was raised during Women’s Day celebrations with EACOP affected women at Community Green Radio in Kiboga Central Uganda.
Over 30 women from EACOP affected districts like Kiboga,Kyankwanzi Mubende ,Hoima and Kikuube shared their struggles at Community Green Radio during Women’s Day celebrations .
Kunihira Edinansi from Lwanda in Kibiga sub county, Kiboga district Central Uganda, appealed to the government to revalue her property, saying the initial valuation was done when the cost of living was relatively low compared to the current situation.
“By the time all my properties were valued in 2018 the cost of living was relatively low and one would easily acquire land,” she said.
Namukisa Peninah from Hoima district, western Uganda also raised the same issue, pleading for government’s intervention in property valuation, given the current economic landscape.
Other issues shared included insecurity, overpopulation, climate change, land grabbing, and a rising crime rate – all attributed to EACOP issues affecting the area.
However, women also shared developmental ideas amongst themselves, like farming, animal rearing, and setting up small businesses, as a way of combating poverty in their homes.
The women expressed gratitude to Community Green Radio for the free space to amplify their voices.
Over 10 districts in Uganda were affected by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), such as Mubende, Kyankwanzi, Hoima, Kikuube, Sembabuule, Kakumiro, Lwengo, Kyotera, Rakai and Gomba, impacting over 171 villages and displacing thousands as homes were destroyed.
STORY COMPILED BY JOAN NTEZA
The National Association of Professional Environmentalists, and Community Green Radio, joined the global celebration of National Women’s Day 2026, standing in solidarity with EACOP-affected women.
Over 30 EACOP-affected women from Kyankwanzi, Mubende Kiboga, Kikuube and Hoima districts converged at Community Green Radio in Kiboga, Central Uganda, to celebrate the day on March 8.
Under the theme “Balance the Scale for All: Movement Building for Women and Girls”, the women shared development ideas, sparking a wave of collective empowerment.
The EACOP affected women expressed concerns about the impact of the project, citing issues like overpopulation, climate change, insecurity, intermarriages, inadequate compensation and delayed compensation.
Ms.Nabagesera Brenda from Mubende, an EACOP-affected woman, shared her struggles, highlighting the challenge of providing food for her family due to climate change-induced food insecurity.
The women are appealing to local leaders and government to step in and address the pressing issues.
The women thanked the National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) for empowering them to advocate for their rights as victims of gender-based violence and environmental injustices.
The women expressed deep gratitude to Community Green Radio for consistently amplifying their voices, showing solidarity, and providing a platform to share their struggles and concerns.
Community Green Radio was formed in 2014 with a mission to amplify the voices of grassroots women, combating gender-based violence and driving transformative positive change in their communities, fostering a culture of solidarity and collective action.
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