By Witness Radio team.
Across Africa, a wave of youthful resistance is gathering momentum against fossil fuel giants accused of destroying communities, fueling the climate crisis, and polluting the environment. From August 18th to 24th, 2025, the StopEACOP Campaign has been mobilizing thousands of young people, activists, and affected communities to send a clear message of “Kicking Total Out of Africa.”
With French oil giant TotalEnergies holding the most significant stake in Uganda’s oil operations, the campaign is at the center of a conflict between corporate profits and the sustainability of the world and its people. The movement began with a group of young Ugandans who opposed the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). This contentious 1,443-kilometer pipeline would carry crude oil from Hoima in western Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.
But opposition has since spread beyond borders, uniting African and global youth movements. This unity against what they describe as ‘harmful and destructive’ fossil fuel projects is a powerful force, making everyone feel connected and part of a larger cause.
Communities living along Uganda’s oil frontlines say projects such as Tilenga, Kingfisher, and the EACOP itself have come at a heavy cost. The campaign week has been filled with shocking experiences of forced displacement, environmental destruction, and economic hardship, accompanied by retaliation when they speak up.
One of the affected, Ssenkayi Akmad, revealed that he lost his land for oil development activities in Uganda. “In 2018, my land was thriving with successful projects, but the compensation I received was only for the bare soil, ignoring everything I had built. When I dared to question this injustice, a leader accused me of disrupting government work. Since when did demanding fairness become sabotage?” He asked.
The campaign is not only demanding a halt to fossil fuel expansion but also highlighting the criminalization of climate activism. Witness Radio has documented over 60 arrests of environmental and climate defenders in Uganda since January 2025, many slapped with charges such as “common nuisance” or “criminal trespass”, despite their peaceful protests and legitimate concerns about the environment.
“Instead of listening to legitimate concerns, the government and companies are silencing voices with arrests, detention, trumped-up charges, and intimidation,” described Yuda Kaye, in an interview with Witness Radio
TotalEnergies is the dominant player in Uganda’s oil sector. The company holds a 56.67% interest in the Tilenga project, alongside China’s CNOOC (28.33%) and Uganda’s National Oil Company (15%). It also owns 62% of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which will pump oil from the Tilenga and Kingfisher fields to Tanzania.
Critics say these projects are not just incompatible with global climate goals, but they also risk locking Africa into decades of fossil fuel dependency. This urgent situation demands our attention and action, especially as the rest of the world moves toward renewable energy.
“Total must back off and leave Africa if they do not want to invest in opportunities that are equitable, sustainable, and led by Africans for Africans,” reads part of the campaign’s social media message.
The campaign also calls for the immediate release of all peaceful climate defenders in Uganda and across Africa and a just energy transition.
