The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd. and the Buganda Kingdom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in environmental conservation and youth empowerment, with a focus on tree planting and sports infrastructure.
The agreement, signed today, highlights two major initiatives: large-scale tree planting under Ekibira Kya Kabaka and the construction of a modern community sports centre in Buddu County, Masaka District. Both interventions fall under EACOP’s Social Economic Investment pillars of environment and youth empowerment, which prioritize sustainable development along the pipeline route.
As part of its contribution, the Buganda Kingdom has allocated 120 acres of land for tree planting and another 10 acres for the sports centre. EACOP will provide financial backing for the construction of the facility, which is expected to nurture young sporting talent, promote physical fitness, and serve as a hub for unity and social transformation.
Guillaume Dulout, the Managing Director of EACOP Ltd., said the MoU reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainability and community growth.
“By restoring ecosystems through tree planting and supporting the sports centre, we are investing in initiatives that will deliver lasting value for communities and the environment,” Dulout noted.
Buganda Kingdom’s Katikkiro, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, welcomed the collaboration, stressing the Kingdom’s focus on addressing climate change, conserving nature, and empowering youth.
“Through Ekibira Ky’Abataka and the new sports centre, we are creating a legacy of resilience, opportunity, and growth for our people,” he said.
The partnership also reflects the shared responsibility of both EACOP and Buganda to safeguard the environment while uplifting communities along the pipeline corridor.
The 296 km pipeline passes through 10 districts and 25 sub-counties, with seven of those districts located within Buganda Kingdom, covering 130 villages across four counties — Gomba, Singo (Kyankwanzi), Buwekula (Mubende), Mawogola (Sembabule), and Buddu (Lwengo, Kyotera, Rakai).
