Kenya’s Ruto in Uganda for regional oil pipeline summit

East African Leaders Convene in Uganda to Revitalize Stalled Oil Pipeline Project
Kenyan President William Ruto joined his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, and other regional leaders at a high-level summit this week to breathe new life into the long-delayed East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The landmark infrastructure project, designed to transport Ugandan oil from the Hoima fields to the Tanzanian port of Tanga for export, has faced significant setbacks, including financing challenges and intense pressure from international environmental groups. The gathering in Kampala signaled a renewed political commitment to see the project through to its completion.
The 1,443-kilometer heated pipeline represents a critical economic ambition for both landlocked Uganda and Kenya, which sees itself as a key regional logistics and energy hub. President Museveni has consistently framed the project as essential for Uganda’s economic transformation. For Kenya, the pipeline is a strategic component of its broader vision for regional integration and trade under the East African Community (EAC) framework. However, the project has been stalled by a withdrawal of major Western financiers and insurers, who have cited stringent environmental and social governance (ESG) criteria, compelling the partners to seek alternative funding, reportedly from Middle Eastern and Chinese sources.
The summit concluded with a firm declaration from the attending heads of state to fast-track the project’s implementation. We are determined to have this pipeline built. It is our resource and our right to use it for the development of our people, President Ruto stated, echoing the collective resolve to circumvent external opposition. The leaders directed their respective energy ministers to establish a clear and accelerated timeline, focusing on securing the remaining financing and addressing the technical and logistical hurdles that have hampered progress.
The future of the EACOP remains a subject of intense debate, pitting developmental aspirations against environmental concerns. Proponents argue it will bring billions in investment, create thousands of jobs, and provide vital government revenues for Uganda and Tanzania. Opponents, however, warn of massive displacement of communities, threats to sensitive ecosystems, and the locking-in of fossil fuel dependency. As the partner states push forward, the success of the EACOP will ultimately test the region’s ability to mobilize resources and execute a complex multinational project in the face of formidable global headwinds.