Oil firms told to step up public engagement to bridge information gaps

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Fred Kabagambe, the presidential advisor on the oil and gas sector and former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, has urged East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd and other oil and gas companies to provide Ugandans with accurate information about their operations to address the growing misinformation around the industry.

He noted that many Ugandans are ignorant about the oil and gas sector, especially the EACOP project, which has led to the spread of misleading statements.

Kabagambe made the remarks on April 11, 2025, during the launch of a tree planting campaign at Muteeme Catholic parish in Kiziranfumbi sub-county, Kikuube district.

The campaign, which will see 150,000 indigenous trees planted, is being implemented by EACOP Ltd in partnership with the Hoima Catholic Diocese.

He pointed out that the limited public awareness about oil and gas activities has resulted in numerous negative statements about EACOP, many of which are unfounded.

“Last year, when I had an engagement with Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemwogerere, he was saying you people you are going to destroy Lake Victoria because the pipeline is going to pass through Lake Victoria,” Kabagambe said.

EACOP deputy managing director John Bosco Habumugisha right, second right Fred Kabagambe Presidential advisor on oil and gas and third right Fr. Dominic Ndugwa holding trees as they launched the campaign. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)

“He was wrong, and on the other hand, he was right because he lacked information. Recently, I had the Hoima district chairman saying that the environment in the area has changed because of oil. So, as I said, also the chairman was right and at the same time was wrong because, as of now, there is no oil production going on, because you cannot destroy before you produce. As we plant trees, let us also have programmes for giving people information about the project.”

Kabagambe commended the tree planting initiative, adding that it had come at the right time when the effects of climate change were increasingly evident. He noted that planting trees is an important step toward mitigating these impacts.

His remarks followed a statement by EACOP deputy managing director John Bosco Habumugisha, who said the project was progressing as planned but faced sabotage from an uninformed group of youths.

About the tree planting campaign

Habumugisha said the trees will be planted along EACOP routes in 10 districts: Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Mubende, Gomba, Sembabule, Lwengo, Kyotera, and Rakai.

He said the project is expected to destroy a significant number of trees, which would impact the environment, and it is for this reason that funds were secured for reforestation.

“Planting trees is more than just an environmental effort – it’s an investment in our future. Trees are essential in combating climate change, improving air quality, conserving water, and preserving soil, while also supporting biodiversity,” he said.

He noted that the campaign is a key part of EACOP's socio-economic investment programmes, which include environmental sustainability, sustainable energy, and rural electrification.

He added that EACOP is collaborating with various partners to plant trees on institutional land, including schools, churches, and land owned by the Bunyoro and Buganda kingdoms. The campaign will focus on planting indigenous and fruit-bearing trees.

Land contributions for the initiative include 70 acres from the Hoima Catholic Diocese in Munteme (Itohya Forest), 70 acres from the Registered Trustees of the Daughters of Mary (Bannabikira) in Masaka, 100 acres from the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Ggogonya, and another 100 acres from the Buganda kingdom.

The Bishop of Hoima Catholic Diocese, Vicente Kirabo, welcomed the campaign, saying: “We are gathered here not just to plant trees, but to sow seeds of hope, responsibility, commitment and solidarity. This initiative is a powerful reminder that development and environmental care must go hand in hand, and all of us share a common responsibility.”

Bishop Kirabo, represented by Fr Dominic Ndugwa, the Diocese’s Chancellor, added: “We recognise that the EACOP project is a national undertaking involving collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including our neighbouring country of Tanzania. It is a complex yet vital infrastructure initiative that has the potential to transform our economy. But it is equally important that such development respects and protects the communities and the environment it touches. Through initiatives like this, we can mitigate the environmental impact of large-scale projects and invest in the long-term health of our ecosystems.”

He further noted: “As the Church, our role is not only to proclaim the Gospel but also to live it out in concrete actions. Pope Francis, in Laudato Si', calls on us to be guardians of creation. When we plant trees, we respond to that call. We answer with faith and with action. We remind ourselves and others that creation is not just a resource to be used, but a gift to be treasured.”

Kikuube district chairman Peter Banura welcomed the initiative, noting that it had come at a time when the region is experiencing tree depletion due to oil and gas activities. He said the ongoing developments have led to significant deforestation, calling for more restoration efforts.

However, he also urged environmentalists to widen their focus beyond oil and gas, pointing out that sugarcane farming was equally responsible for deforestation. He said many people in Bunyoro are embracing sugarcane growing, which requires large tracts of land and contributes to tree loss.