As of July 2026, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) connecting Uganda and Tanzania has reached 90% overall progress, with over 1,443 kilometres of pipeline welded across both nations. The project is right on the verge of its crucial technical start-up ahead of first crude oil exports.
Construction Milestones
Pipeline Progress: The overall midstream infrastructure stands at 90% completion as of late July updates from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda.
Upstream Readiness: The oil fields feeding the pipeline are also nearly finished. The Tilenga project is 74% complete with 234 wells drilled, and the Kingfisher project has reached 79% completion.
Timeline to First Oil: System testing and technical readiness remain on track for mid-2026, with the official first commercial oil exports expected to flow to the Port of Tanga in October 2026.
Legal and Environmental Resistance
Despite structural advancements, the project faces ongoing pressure:
UK High Court Case: In early July 2026, four Ugandan farmers filed a lawsuit in London’s High Court against EACOP Ltd. Backed by environmental groups, the lawsuit claims the UK-registered project developer violated Ugandan environmental laws protecting citizens’ rights to a healthy ecosystem.
Ecological Concerns: New spatial analyses continue to warn about the risk of pipeline leaks affecting Africa’s major freshwater networks, including Lake Victoria and Lake Alber.
Note by Alessandro Bazzoni