The East African Crude Oil Pipeline launched construction of its first main Camp and pipe yard in Kasambya village, Katikara sub-county, Kakumiro district.

The camp is one of the four main camps, the 1,443km crude oil pipeline will have, starting from Kabaale, Hoima district in Uganda to Chongoleani, Tanga in Tanzania.

It is reported that the government officially concluded the acquisition of the land to accommodate a labour camp estimated to host 1,000 workers, including construction crew- welders, drivers, foremen and ICT specialists among others during the construction of a $3.5 billion East African Crude oil pipeline.

On 24th of January 2023, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa handed over an operation license to the managing Director of the EACOP Martin Tiffen and the President of the Uganda.

The managing director for EACOP company limited Martin Tiffen, while speaking during the launch of the construction of first main Camp said that this signals the start of the construction of the project since 68% out of 3,648 project-affected persons were compensated in Uganda and 91% in Tanzania.

He says the acquired land will be transferred to the Uganda Land Commission and leased to EACOP Company limited to develop the project.

Honey Malinga, the Director of Petroleum in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, said this is part of the commercialization journey with 50% of the crude for export and 50% refined locally.

Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom Prime Minister Andrew Byakutaga says oil discovery has enabled the region to witness tremendous development.

The Premier further revealed that he has been receiving complaints from companies in Bunyoro saying they have been sidelined and asked oil companies to address these issues.

Onesmus Mugyenyi, the Deputy Executive Director for Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment-ACODE which hosts the civil society coalition on oil and gas, demanded that civil society organizations-CSOs be allowed to freely monitor the EACOP project.

Of the 47 acres of land, the entire 32 project affected persons have been fully compensated and are also in the process of constructing 174 replacement houses to the project affected persons.

Transcriptions; we want to thank Fred of EACOP for helping us work well with them, I hope whoever got the Money used it well. After utilizing our land, you have kept giving us support as we adopt to thank you once again.

The East African Crude oil pipeline will have a manifold in Kabaale, Hoima, six pumping stations located in Uganda, 27 heating stations and two pressure reduction stations.