Residents who are affected by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project, are calling for an immediate halt to its construction.
The 1,443-kilometre crude oil export pipeline, which will transport Uganda’s crude oil from Hoima in western Uganda to the Tanga port in Tanzania, has sparked widespread protests due to concerns over land acquisition, environmental degradation, and social impacts.
“We want the project stopped immediately to allow adequate time for our grievances to be heard and addressed,” said Joan Kaahwa (not real name), who, along with other over 90 Project Affected Persons (PAPs), protested on December 8, 2024, near the Kikuube district local government headquarters.
They carried placards with messages such as “No to eviction,” “No to land grabs,” “No to environmental harm,” “No to EACOP,” and “Stop EACOP.”
Kaahwa, one of the affected community members, expressed frustration at the lack of clear answers from the project’s implementers.
“We have been told the pipeline will disrupt homes, wetlands, and farmlands, but we have not been given a clear explanation of how environmental concerns will be addressed to protect our livelihoods,” she said.
Tom Katusiime decried the heavy-handed tactics used against environmental and human rights defenders who advocate for the rights of those affected by the project.
“The police promised to deploy, and within moments, after we were told by someone, all the protesters disappeared out of fear of arrest. We were told it was an illegal assembly under the Public Order Management Act (POMA), even though that law was quashed by the Constitutional Court in 2020 due to its incompatibility with fundamental human rights,” Katusiime explained.
They say a climate of fear surrounds the project. They claim that the implementation of the pipeline has been marked by irregular land acquisition, forced displacement, and harassment.
Many also anticipate significant biodiversity loss in pristine environments and disruption to their traditional ways of life.
The protesters also expressed concern over China’s involvement in funding the project after several European financiers withdrew, citing environmental and social concerns.
“It’s ironic that China, considered a developing country, would fund a project that will ultimately benefit TotalEnergies shareholders and ship oil out of Africa to meet the energy demands of the Global North,” said one of the protestors.
They further called on China to reconsider its involvement in the project, urging the country to focus on more sustainable investments, such as renewable energy, that could benefit local communities.
“Instead of supporting fossil fuel projects, China should invest in knowledge transfer and renewable energy, which would help build communities and create lasting benefits,” they added.
Peninah Muhairwe, another resident, noted that while the government has acquired land for the project, compensation for affected individuals has been insufficient.
“People have not been fairly compensated, and the environmental damage caused by the project is undeniable. Wetlands, swamps, and water sources have been degraded, and trees have been cut down for the pipeline’s construction, all without adequate replacement,” she said.
Muhairwe avers that there are risks posed by potential oil spills and other environmental hazards that threaten ecosystems and communities who rely on natural resources for their livelihoods.
The impact on the local climate has also been noticeable, with residents reporting more extreme weather events, such as intense sunshine, violent storms, and flooding, which they attribute to the destruction of wetlands and water sources.
“The environmental damage has led to hunger and further hardship for our people,” said one protestor.
Despite these concerns, government and project officials maintain that the EACOP project is being implemented with environmental sustainability in mind.
Stella Amony, the Corporate Affairs Manager for EACOP, refuted claims that PAPs had not been adequately compensated.
“Of the 3,660 people affected by the project, 95% have been fully compensated,” she told reporters during a media visit to the oil filed last month.
Ali Ssekatawa, the Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, also defended the project, stating that the land acquisition process, which began in August 2018, is nearly complete.
According to Ssekatawa in an opinion article, 10,065 PAPs across the EACOP, Tilenga, and Kingfisher projects have been affected, and 8,977 households have been impacted.
Despite assurances from the government, many residents remain skeptical. “The project may bring short-term benefits such as job creation and infrastructure development,” said Peninah Muhairwe. “But these are outweighed by the long-term environmental and social costs that will impact future generations.”
Local communities continue to call on both the Ugandan and Chinese governments to reconsider their approach to energy development, urging them to prioritise sustainable, renewable energy investments over fossil fuels.
The protestors are not only questioning the fairness of the project’s implementation but also challenging the broader economic and environmental implications of Uganda’s oil industry.
In the midst of these tensions, environmental and human rights defenders are calling for greater dialogue and accountability, while local communities continue to push for their voices to be heard.
