As construction activity on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline intensifies, communities along the 1,443-kilometre route are stepping up demands for transparent environmental monitoring and compensation processes.
Over 14,000 households in Uganda and Tanzania are estimated to be affected by land acquisition along the pipeline corridor. Human rights organisations report that compensation processes have been slow and, in some cases, inadequate.
TotalEnergies, the project operator, has committed to international environmental and social standards. The company recently published its fifth stakeholder engagement report, outlining steps taken to address community concerns.
"We take our responsibilities seriously," a company spokesperson said. "We are working with affected communities, governments, and civil society to ensure the project delivers benefits while minimising adverse impacts."