Hoima Police Block Peaceful Protest by Project-Affected Persons of East African Crude Oil Pipeline

Project-Affected Persons (PAPs) involved in the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project in Hoima were prevented by police from staging a peaceful demonstration in the city.

The group, numbering around 300, had planned to march to the offices of the Petroleum Authority in Hoima, demanding a halt to the construction of the heated crude oil pipeline. They also intended to deliver petitions to TotalEnergies and EACOP, highlighting their grievances.

The protestors gathered at Kitara Secondary School in the heart of Hoima City but were swiftly surrounded by heavily armed security forces, including the Police Field Force Unit (FFU) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). The operation was led by Hoima’s Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Badru Mugabi, who also serves as the head of security in the area.

Mugabi engaged with the demonstrators, urging them to pursue legal avenues to voice their concerns about the EACOP project instead of resorting to protests.

Christopher Opio, a representative of the PAPs, expressed frustration over the lack of response to a petition they had submitted to the Hoima Magistrate’s Court in April 2024. The petition raised issues such as unfair compensation, human rights abuses, and environmental and economic injustices. Opio mentioned that despite earlier assurances from RCC Mugabi that their grievances would be promptly addressed, no action had been taken.

Determined to have their voices heard, the group decided to document their concerns and deliver the petition directly to the relevant authorities. Eventually, Mugabi selected a few representatives from the group and accompanied them to the EACOP offices to submit their petition.

In the petition, a copy of which was reviewed by the Uganda Radio Network (URN), the PAPs demanded an immediate halt to the EACOP project. They called for a pause in operations to allow sufficient time for their grievances to be fully understood and addressed. The petition also demanded an end to the alleged harassment and intimidation by the project’s implementers and called for the protection of grassroots environmental and human rights defenders who are advocating for the rights of affected communities.

Additionally, the petition emphasized the need to protect natural parks and biodiversity, urging a cessation of all oil-related activities in national parks and protected areas to preserve biodiversity for future generations.

In 2022, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for a one-year suspension of the EACOP project, citing serious concerns about human rights violations and environmental impacts.

Last week, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa, reported that land acquisition for the EACOP project was 95% complete. She stated that most resettlement houses had been constructed and handed over, with 95% of affected persons receiving compensation and 97% signing compensation agreements. However, Nankabirwa acknowledged that 112 cases were still under review due to issues such as untraceable individuals, landowner disputes, refusal of compensation offers, and lack of legal title.

Those compensated for the EACOP project had the option of receiving cash, exchanging land for land, or having EACOP construct houses in place of the land where the pipeline is to be laid. According to Nankabirwa, the EACOP project spans approximately 2,740 acres in Uganda, impacting 3,660 individuals, with 177 requiring resettlement housing.