177 families move into new homes built under EACOP resettlement
For years, families in villages such as Kikuube in western Uganda lived in homes with leaking roofs, ageing structures and limited access to basic amenities. In the rainy season, some households worried constantly about damaged homes, while clean water and essential services could mean travelling long distances.
For families affected by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), that reality is changing.
Across communities along the pipeline route, families physically displaced by the project are moving into permanent replacement homes with solar lighting, rainwater harvesting systems and improved sanitation. The change is part of EACOP’s Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and its wider social performance programmes, which aim to restore, and where possible improve, the living standards and livelihoods of Project Affected Persons (PAPs).
177 homes built and handed over
Of the 203 households physically displaced by the project in Uganda, 177 chose replacement housing instead of monetary compensation. All 177 replacement houses have now been completed and handed over to eligible families across the affected districts.
The journey began well before construction. EACOP consulted affected households on the resettlement process, including replacement house designs and the options available to them. This gave families a say in decisions about their relocation and the homes they would receive.
The finished houses mark a clear improvement in structural quality and household amenities. They are built with durable materials and permanent roofing, and come with solar power for lighting, rainwater harvesting facilities and improved sanitation. They also stand on land with formal ownership documentation, giving families greater security of tenure.
For families, the meaning goes beyond the structure itself. According to EACOP’s Social Performance Desk, “Restoring a family’s home is about more than bricks and mortar; it is about restoring dignity, safety, and a sense of permanent belonging within the community.”
Jobs for Ugandan firms and workers
The housing programme has also opened opportunities for Ugandan businesses and workers. Qualified Ugandan companies constructed the replacement houses, while local firms were engaged in areas such as supervision and quality assurance. As a result, the programme has contributed to employment, skills development and local economic activity as well as improved housing.
Rebuilding livelihoods
Restoring a household after displacement does not end with handing over a house. EACOP’s Livelihood Restoration Programme helps eligible households rebuild or improve their incomes after land acquisition. Depending on circumstances and eligibility, support includes transitional assistance, agricultural extension services, crop and livestock productivity programmes, vocational training and enterprise development.
This matters most for households whose livelihoods were closely tied to land. A new home brings security and better living conditions, but lasting resettlement also requires families to be able to produce food, earn income and provide for their households.
Healthcare and water closer to communities
The same approach extends to community health infrastructure. EACOP has worked with district authorities and local communities to improve health facilities along the project route. The interventions include upgrades to maternity and child health services, consultation spaces, water access and other essential infrastructure.
For rural communities, the impact reaches well beyond the buildings. Better equipped facilities bring essential services closer to families and reduce the burden of travelling long distances for treatment, antenatal care and other basic medical services.
Reliable water is another key part of the picture. Solar powered boreholes supporting community facilities provide a more sustainable water source, helping health centres and surrounding communities meet their daily needs.
A process, not a one time payment
EACOP says its community engagement process gives affected people channels to raise concerns, seek clarification and submit grievances throughout the project lifecycle. The intention is that resettlement is not treated as a one time compensation exercise, but as a process that continues as families adjust to their new circumstances.
The experience of the 177 households that received replacement homes reflects this approach. The most visible outcome is the new house, a permanent structure with lighting, sanitation and water facilities. Its impact also extends to security of tenure, livelihood support and access to essential community services.
For a family moving from a deteriorating structure into a permanent home, the change can mean greater security during the rainy season, safer living conditions and a renewed sense of stability. For communities gaining better health infrastructure, water access and livelihood support, the benefits can last long after construction ends.
In that sense, the true measure of infrastructure is not only what is built, but how it changes the lives of the people living alongside it.
