HOIMA . Police in the Albertine region are investigating the theft of East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) construction material .
Suspects include Qiao Tian Peng and Zhang Dong Geng, Chinese supervisors at the East African Crude Oil Pipeline.
The duo 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 theft and 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 Tanzanian government 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 which kicked off last year will cost sh12 trillion, and the pipeline will transport 400,000 barrels per day.