Human rights take spotlight as EACOP, Enabel sign new deal
Nicolas Oebel, Enabel's Country Director, and John Bosco Habumugisha, EACOP's Deputy Managing Director, shake hands after signing the MOU in Kampala
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd and the Belgian Development Agency, Enabel, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening human rights practices within Uganda’s energy sector, an area that has faced ongoing scrutiny from civil society groups and international observers.
The agreement, signed on Thursday in Kampala, falls under an EU-funded initiative to improve corporate respect for human rights in Uganda. It seeks to align private sector operations with Uganda’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR), which government officials say has been slow to take root across industries.
Enabel and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development co-implement the broader programme under which the MoU falls. The partnership will focus on training, capacity building, and promoting responsible sourcing along the pipeline’s supply chain, including among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contracting with EACOP.
EACOP emphasises reputation and Scrutiny
During the signing ceremony, EACOP Deputy Managing Director John Bosco Habumugisha acknowledged that the project continues to face skepticism from various stakeholders.
“These days in the oil and gas sector, when partners approach us, we start from a position of doubt,” he said, noting that EACOP has repeatedly been called to defend its social and environmental practices.
“Even when we are doing the right thing, we have partners who have come and said it’s not okay. We say: please come with us to the field and see for yourself.”
Habumugisha said the company views the agreement with Enabel as a step toward external verification of its commitments. “There is no bride who goes saying ‘I’m beautiful.’ Normally others have to verify and say it,” he said, adding that the cooperation is based on “mutual trust and transparency.”
Government sees opportunity for SME capacity building
Government representatives at the event framed the partnership as a chance to operationalise the country’s human rights policy within the oil and gas sector.
Benard Mujuni, Commissioner for Equity and Rights, said the MoU would help extend human rights–related training to SMEs working with EACOP. He argued that improved awareness could contribute to more responsible sourcing and better national content outcomes.
Enabel highlights policy alignment
Enabel’s Country Director, Nicolas Oebel, said the partnership supports Uganda’s efforts to enforce its national action plan, calling EACOP “a leading private sector actor” whose cooperation would make the plan more effective on the ground.
Background on the pipeline
The EACOP project, stretching 1,443 km from Hoima in western Uganda to Tanga in Tanzania, is designed to transport Uganda’s crude oil to international markets. The pipeline, which includes pumping stations, pressure-reduction stations, and a marine export terminal, is being developed by a consortium led by TotalEnergies (62%), alongside UNOC (15%), TPDC (15%), and CNOOC (8%).
Since the Final Investment Decision in 2022, the project has attracted both local support for its economic potential and strong criticism concerning land acquisition, environmental impact, and the safety of affected communities.
Human rights lens continues to shape debate
While the MoU signals an effort to strengthen oversight and improve compliance, it is likely to be closely watched by civil society organisations, many of which have demanded clearer evidence of rights protection along the pipeline route.
Whether the agreement leads to substantive change or remains largely procedural will depend on how both parties translate the commitments into practice, particularly in communities where grievances related to compensation, land use, and environmental risks persist.
