How can the donkey cross the pipeline? This may sound like a joke (like why did the chicken cross the road?) but it’s not, as this story will make clear. This was a very real question I encountered when, in June 2026, we at 350.org along with colleagues from the environmental organization, Green Conservers, visited the Diloda community in Northern Tanzania. Diloda is one of several villages in Hanang District where the soon-to-be-operational East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) passes through.
The facts and the fallout
The pipeline runs about 1,443 km, passing through Uganda and Tanzania. In Tanzania alone, it sits at around 1147 kms long and traverses 8 regions and 25 districts. According to project timelines announced by EACOP Ltd, operations are expected to begin later in 2026, when the first oil shipments are marked to leave Tanga port in Tanzania. It’s expected to carry 200,000 barrels of oil a day from Uganda to Tanga port, and will have to be heated to at least 50 degrees Celsius to keep the waxy crude oil flowing. All this, buried just a few metres beneath the land communities like Diloda depend on for their farms, water and homes.
Even before it’s up and running, the project has had some devastating consequences on Indigenous Peoples’, their lands and way of life. As the pipeline snakes its way from Hoima in Uganda, to Tanga in Tanzania, many living along its path have been displaced with little compensation, losing both land and livelihoods. Those who depend on fishing can no longer access fishing grounds on Lake Albert, near Kingfisher, Uganda’s upstream oilfield that will feed crude oil into EACOP for export. Allegations of human rights abuses there are well documented too: fishing boats burned, extortion within local fishing communities, and soldiers intimidating residents. The pipeline also poses great risk to several nature reserves, some of which are home to endangered species on the verge of extinction. It’s no wonder that over the years, this project has faced sustained opposition and pressure from local communities, NGOs and various stakeholders from Uganda, Tanzania, France, South Africa and many other parts of the globe.
The road to Diloda
We travelled over 50 km of dirt road from Katesh, a small town in Tanzania’s Hanang District, heading into the rural communities further along the EACOP route to reach Diloda. The road was a real challenge to navigate. It spoke to the harsh terrain and long distances communities must travel just to access health facilities or government authorities.
Along the way, we passed several villages and communities consisting mainly of agriculturists and pastoralists, including the Maasai. On reaching Diloda, we met one of the leaders (name withheld) whose house stands about 20 meters from the pipeline. He has been involved in community engagement around the project, and helped arrange for a few community members to speak with us about the challenges they face because of EACOP, even before the oil has started flowing.
The pipeline has split the land, making access difficult. Photo: Savio Carvalho
Land, water, and broken promises
The pipeline runs through the agricultural lands of the Diloda community, a drinking water source, a school and other basic infrastructure that defines the lives, livelihoods and social cohesion of the community. After a long period of resistance and campaigning, and allegations of threats and intimidation, several community members told us they had little choice but to sign the agreements, written in unfamiliar English rather than their native language of Datooga, forcing them to surrender their land for inadequate compensation. Project officials made many promises, including jobs, connection to the electricity grid and infrastructure development, none of which have seen the light of day. This has been documented by other groups, including Human Rights Watch.
Most households use donkey carts to transport goods from the farm to the house or the grinding mills. The pipeline has split the agricultural land in two, making access very difficult. The project plans to create an underground passage alongside a small stream, allowing people and their carts to cross beneath the pipeline. But this passage runs through what is, in reality, a riverbank that swells during the rainy season, making it next to impossible to cross. There’s a real chance the dirt road could become submerged or choked with wet mud. The seemingly simple, but very pertinent question of how a donkey crosses the pipeline therefore has a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of this community.
In addition to the passage of agricultural produce, there are many other serious issues impacting the community. The first is the challenge faced by those school children who will be forced to walk long distances to get to the crossing in order to access their schools.
Living with the pipeline
Whether or not this project is completed, ensuring the needs of the community are met – both during construction and in its aftermath – is the responsibility of the State, project proponents and EACOP Limited, the company developing and operating the pipeline.The Governments of Uganda and Tanzania have a legal obligation to uphold the human rights of those impacted. They need clear oversight and accountability mechanisms to ensure all non-state actors deliver on their promises, resettlement actions plans,and investments in biodiversity and community resilience projects.
Communities need training and capacity building in terms of disaster management, covering oil spills, fires and major accidents.They also need a mandatory community insurance scheme and spill liability insurance to cover any damage the pipeline causes to water sources, farm lands, livelihoods and the environment. These must be funded by project proponents before oil flows with claims managed independently of the company. Communities cannot and should not be left to the mercy and good will of the company, but to the rule of law which is the responsibility of the state.
EACOP passing through Tanzania.
Going back to the donkey cart in Diloda: crossing the pipeline is more than a matter of life and livelihoods. It’s a symbol of freedom, prosperity and mobility. The Government of Tanzania must play their part and not use a sledgehammer against those seeking justice. This means ensuring year-round access to agricultural lands, water sources, schools and essential services alongside infrastructure development, jobs and remedial action.
By Savio Carvalho
Managing Director, Campaigns and Networks
350.org
@savioconnects.bsky.social