By Witness Radio team.

The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate has dismissed another case against 20 anti-EACOP activists due to want of prosecution.

Yesterday, on April 7, 2024, her worship, Jalia Basajjabalaba, dismissed the case against the 20 activists. The case was dismissed after the state failed to produce witnesses pinning the activists on a common nuisance charge after close to 9 months of case trial.

On August 26, 2024, the 20 activists, including Pitua Robert, Okwai Stephen, Kothurach Margret, Omirambe Moses, Owonda Rogers, Alimange Joseph, and Wabiyona Wicklyf, among others, were arrested while peacefully marching to the Ministry of Energy to deliver a petition opposing EACOP and other oil projects. On August 27, 2024, they were arraigned before Court and charged by the Buganda Road Magistrate with common nuisance.

After nearly nine months of trial, the state failed to present a single witness, prompting the magistrate to close the case file.

Although the case against the activists has been dismissed, they remain deeply dissatisfied with the continued pattern of arrests and charges, which often collapse in Court due to a lack of evidence.

Bob Barigye, one of the activists whose case was dismissed, expressed concern over what he described as deliberate attempts to frustrate and silence voices critical of the EACOP project.

“We are saddened that it was just dismissed after eight months of pacing up and down to Court.

We are disappointed that the magistrate did not award us any cost or compensation for the dismissed case, meaning that the state failed to prove that we were a public nuisance and that we were citing violence as activists. Many of us have been forced to travel long distances from our villages to attend court sessions in Kampala — only for the state to produce no evidence against us. It’s a clear waste of our time, energy, and resources. But beyond that, it’s an attempt to discourage us from speaking the truth about the dangers of the EACOP project,” Barigye said.

Barigye added that the activists are already engaging their lawyers to explore further legal remedies in higher courts, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to justice and their cause.

“It is frustrating and deeply disappointing that we are dragged to Court and disrespected every time we stand up against this deadly pipeline, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). But we were ready to face this battle in Court because we knew we had committed no crime by delivering a petition,” Barigye said, expressing the activists’ exasperation with the legal process.

Shortly after their last Court appearance on February 20, the 20 accused activists, during a press briefing, demanded that the judiciary stop delaying hearings of their case related to the EACOP project and called for the dismissal of their case if the Court lacks sufficient evidence to prosecute them.

“The courts of law should not be used as tools of oppression. They should not waste any time. If we have a case to answer, let them prosecute us on April 7, which they have scheduled. If they fail again, they should dismiss the case instead of wasting our time and resources,” the activists emphasized, reiterating their demand for a fair and expedited legal process.

This is the second milestone achieved by the Stop EACOP activists in less than two months in their continued campaign against the EACOP pipeline. In February 2025, the Court also dismissed a common nuisance case against the 15 EACOP activists due to the lack of prosecution.

“The state doesn’t present a single witness in all the cases that have always been preferred against us. No witnesses have come along to say that these people were unruly. As activists, we want to investigate this further and go to the Constitutional Court to learn what constitutes a nuisance. Whoever is demonstrating peacefully is arrested and charged with a public nuisance. This charge is coronial and very demeaning. We want to go ahead and challenge this,” Barigye revealed, outlining the activists’ proactive plans to challenge the charge of public nuisance.

The EACOP project has long been controversial, with environmental activists arguing that it poses a significant environmental risk and has already left a trail of human rights abuses in the communities hosting it in Uganda and Tanzania.

The EACOP is a 1,443-kilometer heated pipeline transporting crude oil from Hoima, Uganda, to Tanga, Tanzania. The first 296 kilometers run through Uganda, while the remaining 1,147 kilometers pass through Tanzania. The project is a joint venture between TotalEnergies, the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).

By Witness Radio team.

Less than two weeks after Witness Radio’s publication detailing the increasing criminalization of EACOP activists in Uganda, another group of 9 anti EACOP activists, in a brave act of protest, has been arrested while delivering their petition to Stanbic Bank Uganda urging it to withdraw its financial support for the East African crude oil pipeline (EACOP) project.

The peaceful march to Stanbic Bank’s headquarters at Crested Towers in Kampala to deliver a petition was violently disrupted by armed police, with support from the Special Forces Command (SFC), a security unit tasked with protecting Uganda’s president.

On March 24, Witness Radio Uganda published an article revealing that 15 anti-EACOP activists had already been arrested in just three months of 2025. The first wave of arrests occurred on February 26, when a group of 11 environmental activists was detained while marching to the European Union Delegation. The second incident involved four members attached to Extinction Rebellion Justice Movement Uganda, who were arrested before they could reach Parliament to deliver their petition to Speaker Anita Among.

With the arrest of a third group on April 2, 2025, the total number of detained activists has now risen to 24, raising concerns among those who voice negative impacts caused by the oil development activities.

On March 26, 2025, EACOP Ltd., the company in charge of the construction and future operation of the EACOP project, announced that it had acquired financing provided by a syndicate of financial institutions, including regional banks such as Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited.

Following this development, the activists, undeterred by the risks, protested against Stanbic Bank’s decision to offer partial funding for what they described as a destructive project in a partial initial funding tranche, arresting 9 of them.

The nine, including Nalungu Habib, Kyosiimye Joe, Nalwadda Shamim, Wamboga Ivan, Katiiti Noah, Tamale Baker, Gumiisiliza George William, Nakabanda Benjamin, and Kizito Enock, were arrested outside the Stanbic Bank Uganda offices. According to Patrick Onyango, spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police, the suspects will be charged with Common Nuisance.

In an April 2 petition addressed to Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Chief Executive Officer, Mumba Kalinfugwa, the activists, unwavering in their commitment, condemned the bank’s financing of the mega project due to environmental and human rights concerns.

The EACOP project involves the construction of a 1,444km heated pipeline from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga in Tanzania, which will transport crude oil from Tilenga and Kingfisher fields.

As a result of its negative impacts, the activists highlighted that 43 banks and 29 insurers have already distanced themselves from the project. They claim that the project has caused displacement of hundreds of people, abductions and forced disappearances of community leaders, and arrests of over 100 oil pipeline critics in Uganda and Tanzania after expressing concerns about the project.

Other banks announced in the syndicate include the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, KCB Bank Uganda, and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

The Activists, however, maintained that a group of banks’ decision to finance the EACOP project has marked them as enablers of climate chaos, environmental destruction, and the continued exploitation of Uganda and Tanzania’s natural resources for the benefit of international profiteers at the expense of local communities.

“The institutions agreeing to give capital to EACOP have marked themselves as enablers of climate chaos, environmental destruction, and the continued exploitation of Africa’s natural resources for the benefit of international profiteers- at the direct expense of local communities. Today’s arrests further confirm this reality- banks like Stanbic are not only bankrolling environmental devastation but are also complicit in suppressing those who dare to resist.”, said StopEACOP Campaign Coordinator Zaki Mamdoo.

According to Brighton Aryampa, a lawyer representing the activists, these arrests are unlawful and yet another example of the Ugandan authorities using repression to stifle legitimate dissent. He adds that Peaceful protest is a constitutional right, but time and again, those speaking out against EACOP face brutality, arbitrary detention, and intimidation.

Speaking to one of Uganda’s dailies, the daily monitor, the Stanbic Bank manager for corporate communications confirms that the bank is financing the EACOP project, justifying that it aligns with and balances environmental sustainability and economic development in the country.

The nine are currently held in detention at the Kampala Central Police Station, awaiting to be tried in court at any time.

By Witness Radio team.

There is concern over the escalating arrests of environmental activists in Uganda opposing the construction of the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). These have been frequently subjected to brutality and torture by the armed forces, especially during operations.

According to Witness Radio’s investigations, over 15 activists have fallen victim to the arrests since the start of this year, 2025, a number that is likely to escalate due to the continued brutalization and criminalization of the EACOP activists’ activities. These youth groups merge with different activist groups, including Students Against EACOP Uganda, Extinction Rebellion Justice Movement Uganda, and StopEACOP movement, among others, to demand justice and accountability over the Mega EACOP project.

The activists are against implementing the EACOP project, a significant oil development initiative that they believe will harm the environment and the people of Uganda. The project involves the construction of a 1,444 km heated pipeline from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga in Tanzania, transporting crude oil from Tilenga and Kingfisher fields. The activists’ concerns include disruption of ecosystems, water resource contamination, climate change, and oil spills. They argue that the project has already resulted in unfair compensation and resettlement, forced displacement, and loss of livelihoods to the host communities.

However, despite their efforts and substantial cause to protect both people and the environment, they are continuously faced with brutal arrests and charges, including public nuisance, unlawful procession, and inciting violence, among others.

Speaking to Bob Barigye, one of the activists, he expressed frustration over the charges against them, which he says have rendered them outcasts in society.

“Can you imagine raising an important issue and you’re labeled as nonsensical? Because we are exposing the project’s negative effects, we are being charged with common nuisance and inciting violence, among others. These charges have tarnished our reputations in our societies,” he revealed.

The government has often responded harshly to those opposing the EACOP project. Activists and affected communities have faced severe criminalization, persistent threats, and, in some cases, legal action for refusing to surrender their land for the project.

The latest incident happened on March 19th, 2025, when over 30 youths marched to parliament to deliver their petition to the speaker of Uganda, Anita Annet Among, in protest of the ongoing construction of the East African Crude Oil pipeline. The demonstrators were intercepted by armed police, resulting in the brutal arrest of four of them.

The activities attached to Extinction Rebellion Justice Movement Uganda had four of its members arrested, namely, Mpiima Ibrahim, Brian Wasswa, Lubega Hakim, and Ejimu Clavin, were later charged with common nuisance and are currently remanded in the Luzira Maximum Prison until March 25th.

In response to the arrest of its members, the Extinction Rebellion Justice Movement Uganda, on its x handle, posted, “Our fearless members have been brutally arrested and beaten while peacefully marching to Parliament to deliver a petition demanding an end to fossil fuel subsidies.” In a follow-up post, the movement added, “We demand their swift release and an immediate end to fossil fuel subsidies. This fight for justice and a sustainable future needs all of us,” the movement added.

Despite ongoing protests, the government has maintained that Uganda’s oil development project is irreversible and will proceed as planned. The EACOP project involves the construction of a 1,444km heated pipeline from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga in Tanzania, transporting crude oil from Tilenga and Kingfisher fields. The government argues that the project will bring economic benefits to the region and is being implemented with due consideration for environmental protection and community welfare. They also point to the potential for job creation and economic growth that the project could bring.

Nearly a month ago, 11 environmental activists were arrested while marching to the EU headquarters in Uganda to deliver their plea to one of its member states in France to stop their involvement and support of the EACOP project in Uganda.

The eleven were released and ordered to report to Buganda Road Court as a requirement for their bail bonds, while the four were remanded until tomorrow, March 25th.

Last year, the Witness Radio team recorded over 100 cases of arrests involving EACOP activists.

This year, the cycle of oppression, brutal arrests, and persecution of those opposing the pipeline has continued, with 15 cases reported in recent months.

However, these repercussions have not weakened the activists’ resolve. Instead, they remain steadfast in their determination to demand transparency and accountability regarding the project’s consequences. Their resilience in the face of adversity is a testament to the importance of their cause and the need for continued support and awareness.