A group of students were arrested for holding a peaceful demonstration in support of the recent European Union resolution calling for the delay of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). On 5th October 2022, nine students from various universities across the country were remanded to Luzira prison on allegations that they participated in an illegal demonstration. The detained students were: Imran Ntabazi, a student at Gulu University, David Musiri and Vincent Lubega Nsamba, from Makerere University, and six Kyambogo University students identified as Gerald Wenani, Gonga Akisi, Maktum Kajubi, Benjamin Akiso, Alphonse Nkuruziza, and Alex Waswa Lyazi.

The EU Parliament resolution, released on 14 September 2022, red-flagged the EACOP project, citing human rights, environment and climate obligations. The National Association Of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) have asked the Uganda government and the oil companies to address the issues raised by the EU instead of continuing to intimidate and arrest people for talking about EACOP and other oil development projects in Uganda. NAPE said they are concerned about the brutal manner in which the students were arrested by the security operatives and that the offence of common nuisance they were charged with before being remanded to prison. On 14 December 2022, the students appeared before the Buganda Road Court, Kampala, Uganda, following their arrest. The nine human rights defenders are expected to stand trial on 20 February 2023. TotalEnergies commented on the European Parliament's resolution here.