The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd has stepped up efforts to restore livelihoods in communities affected by the pipeline project, graduating 456 youth from project-affected households in Gomba, Kyotera, Lwengo, Rakai, and Sembabule districts.
The graduates, who include 217 young women, received hands-on training in various vocational disciplines and are expected to play a central role in improving household incomes and building resilience in the face of displacement.
The initiative is part of EACOP’s Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) under the broader Livelihood Restoration Program, which is designed to support project-affected households (PAHs) to either restore or improve their means of income-earning capacity and standard of living.
Over the past year, a total of 1,476 youth along the pipeline route have been trained in technical and entrepreneurial skills.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony in Rakai District, EACOP Social Performance Manager, Rosie Birungi, emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering local communities through education and practical training.
“We are greatly honored to empower youth from project-affected households with vocational skills. We believe that equipping them with the right skills will not only enhance their capacity to start their own enterprises but also enable them to engage in productive activities that can improve their household incomes,” she said.
The training, which lasted three months followed by one month of internship, was conducted at Mummy’s Institute of Beauty and Commercial Studies, St Charles Lwanga Technical Institute Butende, and Masaka Vocational Training Institute.
Students specialized in disciplines such as motor vehicle mechanics, welding and metal fabrication, electrical installation, motorcycle mechanics, plumbing, hairdressing, cosmetology, carpentry, and building and construction.
To enable the graduates to put their new skills into practice, each will be given a starter kit tailored to their specific trade.
Birungi said the distribution of starter kits is symbolic of EACOP’s long-term commitment to supporting affected families to achieve sustainable livelihoods.
“The starter kits which will be given today symbolize EACOP’s determination to restoring livelihoods and empowering communities. These kits include essential resources that will help the families to start activities supporting their long-term self-reliance,” she explained.
The training program was delivered with the support of EACOP’s contractors, including ASIGMA Ltd, which covered tuition, scholastic materials, and welfare for the trainees.
Birungi underlined that the initiative aligns with both national and international standards, noting that it was designed in line with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standard 5, which focuses on land acquisition and resettlement.
The importance of the program was echoed by, Lutwama Мathias, Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Rakai, who commended EACOP for contributing to job creation in the region.
“The reason as to why we are here is for you, the graduates. EACOP was given this job to do it and it’s giving back to us. I thank this pipeline for oil to pass through here, because it has provided jobs. We lack jobs and it has provided them here,” he remarked.
For many of the graduates, the training has been life-changing. Milly Nabukeera, a beneficiary who trained in tailoring, shared her personal journey.
“Before I joined here, my dream was to start up my own business. When I heard about this project of EACOP, I rushed and joined in skilling in tailoring. I have learnt a lot and I am proud of myself and thank EACOP for this opportunity,” she said.
Uganda’s demographic profile underscores the urgency of such programs. According to World Bank data, more than 75 percent of Uganda’s population is under the age of 30. Yet, youth unemployment remains a critical challenge. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics’ National Labour Force Survey of 2021 revealed that youth unemployment stands at 17 percent, higher than the national average of 11.7 percent.
Against this backdrop, vocational training initiatives like EACOP’s provide a pathway for young people to secure self-employment or join the formal labor force.
Beyond vocational skilling, EACOP’s Livelihood Restoration Program includes additional measures aimed at helping affected households’ transition smoothly after resettlement.
In the first phase, heavily impacted households received transitional support in the form of food baskets to maintain food security for up to 12 months. Out of 2,257 eligible households, 1,949 have so far received this support.
The program’s second and third phases focus on long-term solutions through agricultural improvement programs, enterprise development, and further vocational training.
So far, 2,938 out of 3,400 eligible households across ten districts have been enrolled in agricultural productivity support.
Farmers are being trained in modern crop production techniques, animal husbandry, and the use of improved seeds and pasture that are resistant to disease and tolerant to climate stress.
Households are also receiving starter packs with improved maize, beans, bananas, cassava, and coffee varieties.
EACOP is also linking affected households to local suppliers of technology, farm inputs, and buyers for their produce to ensure sustainable market access. This approach is intended to build long-term resilience while reducing dependence on external support.
Birungi said the program’s ultimate goal is to create role models who can inspire others in their communities. “Our greatest joy lies in making a difference in the lives of these young people by equipping them with valuable skills that will positively transform their future,”
“We are confident that they will, in time, become role models for others, passing on the knowledge they have acquired. We encourage them to remain resilient and professional as they embark on this new journey,” she said.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline, stretching 1,443 kilometers from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga in Tanzania, is the world’s longest heated crude oil pipeline.
Following the Final Investment Decision in February 2022, the pipeline company owned by TotalEnergies (62%), Uganda National Oil Company (15%), Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (15%), and CNOOC (8%) committed not only to building export infrastructure but also to ensuring that communities along the route share in the benefits.
As the latest group of graduates step out with new skills and starter kits in hand, the initiative demonstrates how large-scale infrastructure projects can go beyond compensation to deliver lasting development impact.
For youth like Nabukeera, the training represents not just a fresh start but a chance to build a livelihood that uplifts both her household and her community.
