EACOP Continue to adversely affect communities in central Buganda and Bunyoro areas

Friday, June 20th, 2025 | By

Social and economic lives of communities affected by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, EACOP continue to dwindle due to delayed compensation and what community members term as inadequate compensation.

This revelation was made during an exchange meeting for EACOP affected communities held at Atkon Hotel in Kiboga Town on 11 June. The meeting organized by the National Association of Professional Environments, NAPE and attracted several women who were affected by EACOP from Hoima, Kikuube, Kiboga and Kyankwanzi districts.

 “When the project was being introduced to the communities, they promised it would bring positive changes, development and prosperity. Now we are seeing the reverse of what was promised,” explained Mrs. Lucy Mbubi from Butimba in Kikuube district.

Ms. AnnaMary Kityo from Kikajjo village in Nabulembeko Parish Kyankwanzi District says even the little compensation that was got left families cracked and others completely broken.

“When we got money, husbands abandoned families for trading centers and married new wives. We were left as heads of families”, she narrated.

Ms.Nabagesera Brenda from Lwanda village in Kiboga Sub County in Kiboga district also shares a similar ordeal:

“When money came, we could no longer see husbands at home. We became full time heads of households. Life has become so difficult now”, she narrated, seemingly stressed.

For Ms.Janet Balondemu from Hoima district, the quality of houses built for those who opted for relocation were of poor quality and standard characterized by unreliable and poor sanitary facilities. 

The women from the EACOP affected areas are appealing to NAPE for more exchange visits and advocacy so as to share challenges but also get their plight known to stakeholders far and wide.

 Mr.Rajab Bwengye, the coordinator of projects at NAPE reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to continued community engagements to minimize on the challenges being faced by communities affected by the EACOP. He appealed to community members to utilize the available spaces like the Community Green Radio to amplify their voices.

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project (EACOP) is a pipeline that will transport oil produced from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to the port of Tanga in Tanzania where the oil will then be sold onwards to world markets.  The pipeline is buried and once topsoil and vegetation have been re-instated people and animals will be able to cross freely anywhere along its length.

EACOP runs 1,443km from Kabaale, Hoima district in Uganda to the Chongoleani Peninsula near Tanga Port in Tanzania.  80% of the pipeline is in Tanzania. It is a buried thermally insulated 24″ pipeline along with six pumping stations (two in Uganda and four in Tanzania) ending at Tanga with a Terminal and Jetty.  Here crude oil will be loaded onto tankers.

STORY COMPILED BY GERALD SSENKOOMI