In an effort to restore and enhance the livelihoods of those affected by the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), young people from project-affected households have been empowered through vocational training under the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP).
This initiative, implemented by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Company, has enabled 754 students from the districts of Hoima, Kakumiro, Kikuube, Kyankwanzi, and Mubende to acquire skills in fields such as tailoring, welding, carpentry, motor vehicle mechanics, and electrical installations. The training aimed to improve income-earning potential and resilience among displaced households.
EACOP’s HR and Corporate Affairs Director, Eileen Baguma, emphasized that the program provides long-term benefits to affected communities.
“We wanted to ensure that people are positively impacted. This vocational training and entrepreneurial skills initiative gives them something sustainable to build on, even after displacement. Out of the 754 graduates, 246 are female. As EACOP, we are proud of this achievement and the parents who supported their children to participate,” she said.
Baguma also highlighted that the graduates will receive starter kits tailored to their respective trades to facilitate self-employment and job creation.
The 754 students completed their training at institutions such as St. Simon Peter’s Vocational Institute in Hoima, St. Peter’s Vocational Training Institute in Mubende, Buhimba Technical Institute in Kikuube, and Millennium Business School in Hoima. The program involved three months of vocational training followed by a one-month internship to give practical experience. Additionally, a total of 1,020 youth from project-affected households along the pipeline route have been trained through similar programs.
While celebrating the initiative’s success, Maj. David Matovu urged the youth to avoid being manipulated by self-serving individuals or groups looking to sabotage the project.
He criticized certain NGOs and media outlets for spreading misinformation, claiming, “Some entities focus on issues like wetlands even when no damage has occurred, propagating lies and blackmail. We haven’t extracted a single liter of oil, yet false narratives circulate.”
Matovu also called upon District Chief Accounting Officers to help these skilled young people access job opportunities. He assured the graduates that their skills, particularly in construction and hairdressing, are highly marketable and can yield substantial income, especially during festive seasons.
Reflecting on the broader impact of the oil pipeline project, Matovu noted that affected households were assessed, valued, and compensated in cash or kind. Beyond compensation, he highlighted the government’s efforts through EACOP to continue empowering young people with life skills, thereby securing sustainable incomes.
“This project has significantly transformed communities. The empowerment of youth is fostering economic resilience, improving livelihoods, and creating long-term benefits in the region,” Matovu concluded.
