Uganda's Oil Pipeline Sparks Debate Over Gender and Environmental Justice

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) promises economic growth for Uganda through higher state revenue, new infrastructure, and jobs. Yet its implementation has sparked concerns over land rights, gender inequality, and environmental justice. Critics argue that current regulations fail to address the project’s broader social and ecological impacts. Uganda’s legal framework already includes strong environmental protections. The Constitution guarantees a clean and healthy environment, while the 2019 National Environment Act introduces tools like Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and restoration orders. However, enforcement remains inconsistent, often prioritising procedural compliance over meaningful public involvement.

International agreements further highlight the link between environmental protection and gender equality. Treaties such as CEDAW, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Maputo Protocol stress that sustainable development must include women’s rights. Yet in practice, EACOP’s rollout has led to land dispossession, weak compensation, and limited civic participation—issues that disproportionately harm women.

Rural women, who depend on land and natural resources for their livelihoods, face the greatest risks. Their exclusion from decision-making worsens economic vulnerability and undermines environmental justice. Legal challenges, including the case of Uganda Law Society & 9 Others v Attorney General, have raised procedural and substantive concerns, but courts have so far taken a cautious approach.

The project’s flaws reveal deeper gaps in governance. While EACOP could boost Uganda’s economy, its current approach risks deepening inequality and ecological harm. Experts argue that a shift toward substantive, gender-responsive policies is needed to align development with justice. EACOP’s economic potential comes with significant social and environmental trade-offs. Without stronger safeguards, the project may reinforce disparities, particularly for women in rural areas. Addressing these challenges will require moving beyond legal formalities to ensure fair, inclusive, and sustainable outcomes.