Population explosion along the EACOP path exerting pressure on social amenities, environment and causing insecurity to communities

Friday, June 20th, 2025 | By

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has increasingly become a major pull factor for masses, especially from deep rural areas to trading centers in anticipation of more opportunities associate with the project.

 Ms Biingi Kamiyat from Kaseeta village in Buseruka sub county Hoima district in western Uganda says the area is now occupied with new residents from unknown places and this has resulted into insecurity in the area.

“Acts such land grabbing, defilement and theft are so rampant in our village which makes us unsecure “, said Ms.Biingi during an interview with our reporter during a community outreach.

Ms Biingi further explained that the situation has been escalating ever since the discovery of oil with many locals losing their land to the powerful individuals.

“Many members of our community have migrated for the sake of their peace and security and those that have remained are feeling insecure, she said.

The revealations were made during the consultative outreach meeting with EACOP affected communities in Buseruka Sub county Hoima district by the National Association of Professional Environmentalists, NAPE.

Ms.Annet Kasoro from in Buseruka Sub County also narrated the agony they go through resulting from the repeated trespasses through their gardens that comes with crops and food destructions,

“Our gardens are invaded during drilling processes and several crops destroyed. This is causing danger to our lives as it leads to food insecurity, she explained.

Unfortunately, we’ve not got received sufficient support from our leaders about this matter; we need clear information about what can be done to address the issues

The community members appreciated NAPE and the community Green Radio for their continuous support, especially providing a platform to share their ordeals and ensuring that they are heard wide and far.

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.

COMPILED BY JOAN NANTEZA