Uganda Continues Targeting Fossil Fuel Activists
Authorities Should Drop Charges Against EACOP Protesters
On November 6, a court in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, gave the go-ahead for the trial of twelve activists, eight of whom are students. The group faces charges stemming from their protests against the planned East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), one of the largest fossil fuel infrastructure projects currently under development globally.
The activists were arrested on August 1 during a demonstration near Stanbic Bank, a Ugandan bank providing financial support to EACOP, and have been held in jail since, in violation of international due process norms. They are facing criminal charges for “nuisance on roads.” “Ongoing arrests are a way to suppress dissent and instill fear- especially since bail is often denied, so people know they could spend a long time in prison,” said Brighton Aryampa, a defense lawyer for the protesters.
This is the latest example of retaliation in response to peaceful demonstrations against EACOP that have taken place at various locations in Kampala, including Parliament, embassies, and banks, urging institutions to withdraw support to the project given its serious threats to human rights and the environment. Human Rights Watch has previously documented devastating impacts on the livelihoods of Ugandan families linked to EACOP’s land acquisition process.