Africa-Press – Uganda. The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) and officials from the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) have expressed concern over what they describe as deliberate efforts by saboteurs to turn communities against Uganda’s oil and gas projects.
According to PAU and EACOP management, some individuals are visiting villages — even approaching farmers in their gardens — and playing videos and showing pictures from other countries to convince people that oil exploration will cause suffering and environmental destruction.
EACOP Deputy Managing Director John Bosco Habomugisha said the campaign of misinformation has persisted despite visible progress on the pipeline project, which now stands at 72 percent completion.
“These people meet residents in gardens, play them videos and photos recorded from other countries, and tell them that people along the pipeline in Uganda are already suffering,” Habomugisha said.
“This is very unfortunate. The most hurting part is that they never come to us to see families whose lives have changed positively as a result of the oil projects.”
He urged communities to reject falsehoods and instead visit resettled project-affected persons to witness improvements made under the government’s compensation and infrastructure programs.
Samuel Mugisa, a community liaison officer with PAU, echoed the same concerns, calling on residents to act as ambassadors of the national oil projects.
“A lot has already been achieved even before the first oil. The affected persons were resettled well; roads, schools, and health facilities have been constructed. People should report any bad elements to police or local leaders once seen,” Mugisa said.
Habomugisha further assured Ugandans that, despite the actions of detractors, the pipeline construction is progressing steadily and is expected to enable Uganda to produce its first oil by July 2026.
“They talk out of ignorance. They just don’t want Africa to be independent and manage its own affairs. They prefer that we continue exporting raw materials cheaply,” he said.
“This will not happen with oil. The project will move forward, and Uganda’s economy will reach a new level once production begins.”
PAU and EACOP officials have now urged residents in the Albertine region to defend and promote the oil projects, saying their success will enhance Uganda’s fiscal independence.
Once oil production starts, they say, the country will be able to finance a larger portion of its national budget and extend social services such as electricity, water, quality roads, schools, and health centers “without too many external conditions.”
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