The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd and the Belgian Development Agency, Enabel, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in promoting Business and Human Rights (BHR) principles within Uganda’s energy sector.
The agreement reflects both institutions’ commitment to ensuring that energy and infrastructure projects are implemented in ways that uphold human rights, social inclusion, and sustainable development.
Under the partnership, EACOP and Enabel will jointly promote responsible business conduct, enhance capacity-building on human rights due diligence, and support greater alignment of private sector operations with Uganda’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR).
The collaboration falls under the European Union–funded Advancing Respect for Human Rights by Businesses in Uganda Project, co-implemented by Enabel and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. John Bosco Habumugisha, EACOP’s Deputy Managing Director, emphasized the company’s commitment to responsible project delivery.
“EACOP is committed to delivering the pipeline project responsibly—ensuring that growth, inclusivity, and human rights go hand in hand. This partnership with Enabel represents a shared commitment to sustainable development and responsible corporate citizenship,” he said.
He added that the MoU marks a new milestone in EACOP’s long-term sustainability agenda.
“Built on good faith, mutual trust, and transparency, it demonstrates EACOP’s commitment to delivering not just an engineering project, but a responsible legacy for Uganda and the region.”
Enabel’s Country Director, Mr. Nicolas Oebel, noted that the partnership complements Uganda’s national priorities on responsible investment.
“Enabel is proud to collaborate with EACOP, a leading private sector actor, to translate the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights into tangible actions that safeguard rights and foster sustainable investment,” he said.
Mr. Benard Mujuni, Commissioner for Equity and Rights at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, welcomed the MoU as a significant step toward strengthening the implementation of the NAP-BHR in the oil and gas sector.
He highlighted that the partnership will extend BHR capacity-building initiatives to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contracted by EACOP—advancing responsible sourcing, sustainability, and national content development.
