A group of 11 environmental activists protesting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) was charged and remanded in prison after demonstrating at the EU Mission in Uganda. The activists, primarily from the Students Against EACOP Uganda group, oppose the project due to concerns about its environmental and human rights implications. Despite ongoing protests and an active legal appeal, the Ugandan government continues to support the project’s development, viewing it as integral to the country’s oil industry.
A group of 11 environmental activists in Uganda has been charged with common nuisance and are currently remanded in Luzira prison following a protest at the European Union (EU) Mission. The protest occurred on February 26, 2025, and was organized by members of the Students Against EACOP Uganda group, including notable figures such as Shaffic Kalyango, Joseph Ssengozi, and Namuddu Rahima. They sought to deliver a petition urging the EU to pressure France to cease its support of Total Energies, the primary investor in the controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
The activists vehemently opposed the EACOP project, which they contend poses significant threats to the environment and human rights, including mass displacement and environmental degradation. This 1,443-kilometer pipeline is designed to transport crude oil from Uganda to Tanzania. The group asserts that it will have catastrophic effects on the local population and land, affecting over 86,000 individuals from thousands of households in both countries.
Charged under Section 65(e) of the Road Acts Cap 346, the activists disrupted the operations of the EU Mission, leading to their arrest. Kaye Yudah, the head of mobilization at Students Against EACOP Uganda, criticized the project developers for human rights violations associated with land acquisition that has begun.
Despite ongoing protests and legal challenges, the Ugandan government insists that EACOP is vital for the nation’s oil industry. Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa confirmed substantial progress, stating that over 1,100 kilometers of the pipeline have been successfully delivered to Tanzania, with construction efforts continuing in both nations. A recent hearing by the East African Court of Justice concerning the project on the day after the protest suggests that legal battles regarding EACOP may persist.
The protest by the environmental activists reflects a significant outcry against the EACOP project’s potential social and environmental impacts. Their arrest on common nuisance charges underscores the challenges faced by activists in Uganda advocating for human rights. The Ugandan government remains steadfast in its commitment to the project despite mounting opposition and legal scrutiny, emphasizing its importance to the national economy.
Original Source: www.thecitizen.co.tz
