More than 90% of the people in the affected areas of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project have now been compensated. This project has directly impacted over 200 individuals in Uganda, leading to the relocation of 601 graves and the moving of five shrines out of the 25 registered.
Fred Bazara, the EACOP community liaison officer, shared during a field tour on November 9, 2023, that the remaining 8% who haven’t received compensation face challenges like lacking national identity cards and bank accounts where the compensation is supposed to be deposited. Some landlords, around 100, are still missing, making it difficult to compensate them as they need to sign agreements.
Since the project started, EACOP has addressed 899 out of 910 grievances, leaving only 11 pending. Notably, 222 grievances were filed by women affected by the project. The construction team has also completed 177 houses for those who needed replacements.
In Mubende district, Florence Nansubuga, whose husband was compensated, expressed gratitude for their new modern house. She mentioned that the family now receives monthly food rations from EACOP, significantly improving their living conditions.
The 1,443-kilometer pipeline, connecting Kabaale, Hoima to Port Tanga in Tanzania, is set to commence construction by the end of this year, transporting oil from the Albertine Region to the world market.