In the heart of Buliisa district in western Uganda, the once-forgotten River Kamuhukula has once again resurfaced, following decades of obscurity, not as the blessing it should be, but as a testament to the desolation wrought by industrial and corporate greed. Water discharge from the EACOP project’s central processing unit located in Kasinyi has displaced many families, leaving communities in chaos. Now prone to destructive flooding, the nearby River Sambya stands out as another casualty of unbridled exploitation. These tragedies have a few things in common. For instance, they are not natural. Rather they can be directly linked to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project, a venture that testifies to the profound betrayal of the moral and spiritual responsibilities of humanity to protect creation.
A section of River kamuhukula showing floods resulting from water discharge due to oil project operations
The EACOP Project: A Reckless Onslaught on Creation
The EACOP project symbolizes corporate avarice and stark disregard for the sacredness of life and the environment. Sold as a key driver of economic growth and development, it has instead brought deforestation, contamination of crucial water sources, and displacement of communities. Rivers such as Sambya and Kamuhukula stand as collateral damage in the pursuit of profit that disregards the sanctity of God’s creation.
Regardless of our creeds, the teachings of our faiths teach us that the earth is entrusted to humanity by a creator to be cherished and stewarded. However, the actions undertaken by the EACOP project reveal a gross violation of this trust, turning fertile lands and life-giving waters into wastelands. This project is an embodiment of the failure to regard or otherwise respect the interconnectedness of all life, an interconnectedness of all life that spiritual teachings and scriptures have long extolled.
A Moral and Environmental Crisis
The displacement of homes and resurgence of rivers in Buliisa district are not isolated incidences. Rather, they are part of the broader crisis fueled by environmental degradation and climate change. Rooted in exploitation and disregard for ecological balance, the operations of the EACOP project enhanced these vulnerabilities and thus transformed climate risks into full-blown catastrophes.
Nevertheless, this is more than an environmental crisis. It is a moral failing. Exploiting the land and its people for profit is tantamount to denying the divine command to love one another and care for creation. The suffering inflicted by the EACOP project is an affront to justice and a betrayal of humanity’s calling to safeguard the vulnerable.
Faith Calls for Action against EACOP
For people of faith, the battle against the EACOP is nothing less than a sacred duty. Religious teachings compel us to defend the oppressed, protect the earth, and hold the powerful to account. The displaced families in Buliisa district, stripped of their homes, livelihoods, access to water, and dignity, are the “least of these’ whom the scriptures call us to defend. Their plight calls for nothing short of a strong and unified response.
The communities affected by the EACOP project are not merely victims. Indeed, they are testaments to the human cost that follows greed and neglect. Faithful action demands standing in solidarity with them, amplifying their voices, and working tirelessly to end this destructive project.
In the face of the EACOP project’s reckless pursuit of profit, faith leaders and communities must rise as prophetic voices, denouncing environmental degradation and advocating for a just and sustainable future.
This is a call to:
Condemn the EACOP project and unequivocally reject it as a violation of divine law and human rights.
Empower the vulnerable by offering resources, advocacy, and platforms to demand justice for displaced communities.
Demand accountability by holding the corporations and governments responsible for the suffering they have caused.
And rally to protect forests, rivers, and ecosystems as sacred gifts that sustain life.
Local youths amplifying their voices in opposition to the effects of the EACOP project on River Sambya during the Climate Action Week
The EACOP project is not merely an environmental disaster. It is a spiritual and moral crisis. Its legacy will be one of destruction, displacement, and despair unless it is stopped. As faith teaches us, we are called to act with courage and compassion, particularly in the face of injustice.
Standing against the EACOP project is equivalent to standing for a future in which people and the planet are valued above profit, creation is protected as a sacred trust, and justice prevails above exploitation. We ought to heed the cries of the earth and its people and demand an end to the EACOP project.