In Uganda, 296 kilometers of the 1,443 kilometer East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) owned by TotalEnergies E&P Uganda (62% shareholding) will be installed.

This land-based investment, when completed, will be buried underground, traversing 25 sub-counties in 10 districts of Uganda – 7 in Buganda Kingdom and 3 in Bunyoro Kingdom.

Source @ EACOP

The People

Population of Buganda Kingdom

The largest first nation of Uganda, the Baganda (7 million people), claim territorial ownership of Buganda Kingdom.

A territory which hosts 24.3% (11.2 million) of Uganda’s population. Of which 20.2% (2.3 million) are hosted in the seven EACOP districts of Buganda:

• Mubende hosts 522,015 people (51.9% female and 48.1% male).
• Rakai hosts 346,885 people (43.8% female and 56.2% male).
• Lwengo hosts 325,263 people (57.1% female and 42.9% male).
• Ssembabule hosts 305,971 people (48.6% female and 51.4% male).
• Kyankwanzi hosts 278,432 people (51.7% female and 48.3% male).
• Kyotera hosts 275,917 people (52.1% female and 47.9% male).
• Gomba hosts 199,120 people (50.8% female and 49.2% male).

Population of Bunyoro Kingdom

The Banyoro (1.2 million people), another of Uganda’s first nations, claim territorial ownership of Bunyoro Kingdom.

A territory which hosts 6.1% (2.8 million) of Uganda’s population. Of which 38.1% (1 million) are hosted in the three EACOP districts of Bunyoro:

• Kakumiro hosts 428,176 people (52.1% female and 47.9% male).
• Kikuube hosts 379,547 people (52.2% female and 47.8% male).
• Hoima hosts 257,544 people (52.4% female and 47.6% male).

Population statistics derived from most recent Uganda Population Census conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics in 2024. Click here to access full report.

Land Tenure

“All land in Uganda belongs to the citizens of Uganda,” stipulates Article 237(1) of the Constitution of Ugandan; de facto meaning, ultimate ownership of land vests in the citizens of Uganda.

Land in Uganda is owned under either of its four tenure systems – Leasehold, Freehold, Mailo and Customary, as are recognised by the Uganda Constitution.

Land Tenure in Buganda Kingdom

The majority of land in Buganda Kingdom is owned under Mailo, a system whose roots derive from English feudal models.

Under Mailo, there are two landowners – the landlord or landlady who owns the whole and the occupant who owns a part (ekibanja) of the whole; the latter collectively referred to in plural as bibanja owners.

Bibanja owners have legally protected use rights, subject to payment of busuulu, an annual rent to the landlord.

Land Tenure in Bunyoro Kingdom

The majority of land in Bunyoro Kingdom is owned under Customary Tenure, as is the case with the majority of land in Uganda.

Customary land ownership is in the “traditional African sense” – individuals have use rights in accordance with community authority. The community authority owns the land in trust for all current and future members of the community – extended family and or clan.

For more understanding of Uganda’s land tenure systems read the backgrounder on “Conflict in Uganda’s land tenure system.” Click here to access it.

Profiled photo: The much loved 36th Kabakaka (King) of Buganda Kingdom Ronald Edward Fredrick Kimera Muwenda Mutebi II among his subjects. Photo @ Emmanuel Owaraga