Kikuube Residents Protest EACOP, Citing Unfair Compensation and Environmental Harm

Project-affected persons (PAPs) under the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project (EACOP) in Kikuube District staged a protest on Monday, demanding an immediate halt to the project.

Carrying placards reading “No to land grabs,” “Stop EACOP,” and “Protect biodiversity,” over 100 residents gathered near the Kikuube District headquarters, voicing grievances over environmental harm, unfair compensation, and alleged intimidation by project implementers.

The 1,443 km heated pipeline, set to transport crude oil from Hoima, Uganda, to Tanga, Tanzania, has faced growing opposition from local communities and international activists. PAPs argue that the project disrupts lives and ecosystems without adequately addressing their concerns.

Innocent Tumwebaze, one of the protesters, highlighted issues surrounding compensation.

“While the government acquired land for the pipeline, many people were not fairly compensated. They must resolve this before proceeding,” Tumwebaze said.

Similarly, Sarah Natukunda, another PAP, criticised the compensation process.

“The payments are inadequate, and while the project promises economic benefits like job creation, the long-term costs to communities and the environment far outweigh these gains,” she explained.

The protesters raised alarms over the pipeline’s adverse effects on biodiversity and natural resources.

“The destruction of swamps, wetlands, and water sources is causing climate changes in Kikuube. Indigenous trees have been cut down, but no efforts have been made to replace them,” lamented Racheal Tugume from Kijumba Village.

Barak Bakundane, another PAP, warned of the environmental risks associated with the pipeline.

“The threat of oil spills poses severe dangers to wildlife and communities that depend on these ecosystems for their survival. This destruction is criminal,” he stated.

Protesters also decried harassment of grassroots environmental defenders and demanded greater accountability. They urged authorities to prioritise protecting national parks and biodiversity, emphasising that extractive activities in sensitive areas, including national parks, should cease.

Stella Amony, Corporate Affairs Manager for EACOP, stated that 95% of the 3,660 affected individuals had been fully compensated.

“The project is being executed with environmental sustainability in mind, addressing concerns raised by activists,” Amony said.

However, PAPs dismissed such assurances, demanding immediate action to address unresolved grievances.

The EACOP project, estimated to cost $5 billion, has faced international backlash. In 2022, the European Parliament called for a one-year delay, citing environmental and human rights violations, including forced evictions and the wrongful imprisonment of defenders.

Local protests in Hoima earlier this year also highlighted similar concerns, as police blocked demonstrators from petitioning TotalEnergies and the Petroleum Authority of Uganda.

As protests gain momentum, communities along the pipeline route continue to challenge the project’s socio-economic and environmental impact. Their call is clear: address grievances, ensure fair compensation, and protect Uganda’s natural heritage for future