Hoima Police probe theft of shs114m pipeline construction material
Hakkiza said Tian and Zhang were produced before the Hoima Chief Magistrate Court on August 14, 2025, charged with theft and remanded until August 28, 2025, when their bail applications will be heard.
Officials recently inspecting the EACOP Pipeline construction work progress in Nyamasoga village in Buseruka Sub-county. (Credit: Peter Abaanabasazi)
By Peter Abaanabasazi
Journalists @New Vision
HOIMA - Police in the Albertine region are investigating a theft of East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) construction material worth over sh114 million.
Suspects include Qiao Tian Peng and Zhang Dong Geng, supervisors at the East African Crude Oil Pipeline.
They are alleged to have connived with seven other workers to steal three drums of aluminium cable wire worth sh114m.
In the statement that was issued by the Albertine South police Spokesperson SP Julius Hakiza Allan on Friday, 15, 2025, the suspects were involved in the theft act on August 11, 2025, at around 9:00PM, along the pipeline route in Kayera village in Kigaga Parish, Kabaale Sub County, Hoima District.
According to him, the suspects were arrested after a whistleblower informed the authorities about the theft that was going on at the EACOP project.
He noted that a case file of theft was first opened at Kabaale Police Station in Kabale sub-county, Hoima district, on August 12, 2025, and later registered as CRB 468/2025 at Hoima District Rural central police station.
Hakkiza said Tian and Zhang were produced before the Hoima Chief Magistrate Court on August 14, 2025, charged with theft and remanded until August 28, 2025, when their bail applications will be heard.
The seven co-accused were given bond pending further investigation.
When contacted for a comment, Stella Amony, the EACOP Communications Officer declined to comment about the incident, promised to call back, but she did not return the calls.
The EACOP project is being implemented by the governments of Uganda through the national oil company (UNOC) and Tanzania through the petroleum development corporation (TPDC), Total Energies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) under the company called EACOP LTD.
In Uganda, the pipeline, 296km long, will traverse 10 districts and 25 sub-counties. In Tanzania, the pipeline, 1,147km long, will traverse 8 regions and 25 districts.
The construction of the proposed crude oil pipeline will cost sh12 trillion, and the pipeline will transport 400,000 barrels per day.
Under this project Uganda and Tanzania are going to invest 30% while oil companies are to invest 70% of the total cost of the project.
The project period is three years.