EACOP, partners roll out campaign against GBV in pipeline communities

On September 5, 2025, Kabaale Primary School in Hoima District became the stage for the launch of a major campaign aimed at tackling gender-based violence (GBV) and promoting sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) in communities along the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) route.

The event brought together government officials, district leaders, civil society organizations, and community members, underscoring the need for collective action in addressing issues that continue to affect women and children most severely.

The initiative, developed in partnership with Health Promotion International (HPI), is based on research carried out across five districts in Uganda. Findings showed that GBV remains a widespread problem, often linked to poverty, harmful cultural norms, and practices such as polygamy. Women and children were found to be the most vulnerable groups, with many unable to access justice or essential health services.

In response, EACOP and its partners have introduced a range of activities that combine education, awareness, and service delivery. These include community theatre performances designed to break cultural taboos and spark open dialogue, the distribution of information materials in Runyoro, Runyankole, and English to reach wider audiences, and mobile health booths offering counselling alongside medical services such as HIV testing, family planning, Hepatitis B screening, malaria and TB testing, diabetes checks, and UTI treatment. Counselling and dialogue sessions are also being organized to provide safe spaces for survivors, while legal support and referrals are helping connect victims to justice and professional care.

Speaking at the launch, EACOP’s Social Performance Manager, Rosie Birungi, described the campaign as a strategic intervention to build safe, informed, and empowered communities, stressing that respect, safety, and consent are non-negotiable. On behalf of the Ministry of Health, Dr Ibrahim Bwaga, Director of Hoima Regional Hospital, reiterated government’s zero-tolerance stance on GBV and announced new measures, including the establishment of GBV response units in all hospitals by 2026, the integration of GBV awareness into maternal health services, and the training of 5,000 health workers before the end of 2025.

By focusing on prevention, awareness, and access to services, the campaign seeks to create lasting change in pipeline-affected communities. It also directly contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 5 on Gender Equality and 3 on Good Health and Well-being, while advancing Uganda’s National Development Plan III on health, safety, and human capital development.