EACOP and Enabel Sign MoU to Promote Human Rights and Responsible Business
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd and the Belgian Development Agency, Enabel, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement aims to strengthen collaboration in promoting Business and Human Rights principles within Uganda’s energy sector.
This MoU reflects both institutions’ shared commitment to ensuring that energy and infrastructure development respect human rights, foster social inclusion, and encourage sustainable development.
Advancing Responsible Business Practices Together
EACOP and Enabel will work together to advance responsible business conduct. Additionally, they will focus on building capacity for human rights due diligence. They will also support better alignment of private sector operations with Uganda’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR).
The collaboration is part of 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.
EACOP’s Commitment to Responsible Corporate Citizenship
At the signing ceremony, Mr. John Bosco Habumugisha, Deputy Managing Director of EACOP, emphasized the importance of corporate leadership in safeguarding human rights in the energy sector.
“EACOP is committed to delivering the pipeline project responsibly. We aim to ensure that growth, inclusivity, and human rights go hand in hand. This partnership with Enabel reflects our shared commitment to sustainable development and responsible corporate citizenship,” he said.
He added that this partnership marks an important step for EACOP. “Built on mutual trust, transparency, and good faith, this partnership shows EACOP’s commitment to creating not just an engineering project, but a responsible legacy for Uganda and the region.”
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Enabel’s Role in Supporting Human Rights and Sustainable Development
Enabel’s Country Director, Mr. Nicolas Oebel, noted how the partnership aligns with Uganda’s national priorities.
“Enabel is proud to collaborate with EACOP, a leading private sector actor. Together, we aim to translate Uganda’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights into tangible steps that protect rights and promote sustainable investment,” he said.
A Boost to Capacity Building in Uganda’s Oil and Gas Sector
Mr. Benard Mujuni, Commissioner for Equity and Rights at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, welcomed the MoU. He believes it is a major step forward in implementing the NAP-BHR within Uganda’s oil and gas sector.
He emphasized that the partnership will extend business and human rights capacity-building initiatives to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that supply and contract with EACOP.
“These efforts will strengthen responsible sourcing and support national content development goals,” Mujuni said.
The collaboration will also contribute to Uganda’s long-term goals for social inclusion, human rights, and sustainable economic growth.
