EACOP kicks off road construction in Hoima
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd, in collaboration with Hoima City authorities, has launched construction works on the 7.5-kilometre Nyamasoga–Katooke Road in Buseruka Sub-county, Hoima District. The road project, part of EACOP’s Socio-Economic Investment (SEI) programme, is aimed at improving access, trade, and livelihoods for communities living along the crude oil pipeline route....
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd, in collaboration with Hoima City authorities, has launched construction works on the 7.5-kilometre Nyamasoga–Katooke Road in Buseruka Sub-county, Hoima District. The road project, part of EACOP’s Socio-Economic Investment (SEI) programme, is aimed at improving access, trade, and livelihoods for communities living along the crude oil pipeline route.
Once completed, the road will connect the villages of Kayera and Katooke, home to about 6,500 residents and link them more efficiently to the Kaiso–Tonya Highway. The upgraded road is expected to improve mobility for traders and farmers, ease transportation to markets and schools, and facilitate access to health services in the area.
Currently, the road is in poor condition and often impassable during the rainy season. Local leaders say its rehabilitation is a long-awaited development that will significantly enhance economic activity in the oil-rich region.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony at Katooke Trading Centre, Mr. JB Habumugisha, the Deputy Managing Director of EACOP Ltd, emphasized the company’s commitment to ensuring that communities benefit directly from the pipeline project.
“EACOP remains committed to ensuring that the communities along the pipeline route benefit from improved infrastructure and social services. This road project demonstrates our dedication to supporting local development priorities in partnership with government authorities,” Habumugisha said.
He added that the initiative was developed in response to a request from Hoima District leaders, who identified the road as a key barrier to transport and local economic growth. Habumugisha also pointed to broader community development projects under EACOP, including plans for a health facility in Hoima and youth training programs in mechanics, civil works, driving, and catering.
According to him, over 2,000 young people in Uganda have already been trained under EACOP’s skills development initiative. “As we build the pipeline, we must coexist with the communities, addressing their needs while delivering one of Uganda’s most important national projects,” he added.
Hoima Resident District Commissioner Rodgers Mbabazi, who officially commissioned the project, commended EACOP for supporting government efforts to improve local infrastructure and livelihoods. He noted that such interventions align with Uganda’s broader goal of ensuring oil developments contribute directly to local well-being.
“EACOP’s partnership with the district shows that the pipeline project can bring tangible benefits to ordinary people beyond oil exports,” Mbabazi said, urging residents to support the project and safeguard the new infrastructure once completed.
The road construction marks another phase in EACOP’s broader community engagement efforts across the 296-kilometre stretch of the pipeline that runs through Uganda before crossing into Tanzania.
Local leaders hope that beyond easing transportation, the new Nyamasoga–Katooke Road will unlock agricultural potential, improve trade linkages, and create employment opportunities for residents long after the construction is complete.
