EACOP affected communities in Kyankwanzi struggling to get food for their families

Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 | By

Community members affected by the East African Oil Crude Pipeline, EACOP in Kyankwanzi district central Uganda are in dire need for food for their families.

Annamary Kityo from Kikajjo village in Nabulembeko parish, Watubba Sub County in Kyankwanzi District says community members didn’t plant food crops since they were stopped from using the land. According to Mrs. Kityo, the situation has been exacerbated by the delay in compensation money plus the long dry spell.

“We were stopped from cultivating on our. We hoped to get compensation in time so that we can get land where to cultivate but money hasn’t come. The dry season has been on for long and therefore we can’t find even where to buy food from”, she narrated to Community Green Radio

Jane Namusiisi of Half London village in the same parish and district says house wives are finding difficulty in sustaining homes.

“You wake and look for what to serve your children and you can’t find anything. It is completely hard to run a home now”, she explained.

David Seremba, a resident of Kikajjo says as heads of families are struggling to run families. He says those who got compensation, it was insufficient to sustain them. He adds that those who are waiting for compensation are suffering since it has delayed.

“How do you expect me to run my home when you stopped me from using my land?; He wondered.

Asuman Ssembatya, the LC III for Nabulembeko parish affirms the tough situation community members affected by the EACOP project are going through. Mr. Ssembatya says some affected people are so desperate and losing hope of getting their compensation.

“The situation is tough for our people. Many of those that were compensated are crying after the money they got is over. A number of the affected residents are still waiting for their compensation and aren’t sure when it will come”, Ssembatya explained.

Communities affected by oil and gas infrastructures are compensated after their properties are assessed and valued by government. Compensation rates are proposed and drafted by respective district local governments and approved by the chief government valuer.  Affected communities have consistently complained of under valuation of their property and delay in compensation.

The EACOP, a USD 5 billion mega infrastructure project, will serve as a conduit for transporting Uganda’s crude oil from the Albertine Graben, starting at Kabaale in Hoima District, to Tanzania’s Tanga Port, where it will be shipped to international markets once completed.

According to the government of Uganda, as of 30^th August last year, the EACOP had compensated 97% of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in the country.

Community Green Radio (CGR) has been giving a voice to the project affected persons, PAPs, to demand for their rights by amplifying their voices