“Kampala Police Arrest 11 Students Protesting East African Crude Oil Pipeline”, 26 February 2025

Police in Kampala have arrested 11 students from various universities for participating in a protest against the controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. The arrests occurred during a demonstration involving close to 40 students along Nile Avenue, near Crested Towers in Nakasero, where students from Kyambogo University, MTAC, and other institutions voiced their opposition to the pipeline. Wearing orange T-shirts emblazoned with anti-EACOP slogans, the protesters called for the cessation of activities related to the construction of the pipeline, developed by Total Energies. The pipeline is set to transport crude oil from Uganda to Tanzania for export but has drawn significant criticism due to concerns about its environmental and social impact.

Authorities described the protest as unlawful and swiftly intervened. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed that 11 individuals were arrested and charged with “common nuisance” at the Kampala Central Police Station. EACOP, part of a broader oil extraction project, has faced mounting opposition from environmentalists and local communities concerned about potential damage to land, water sources, and wildlife. The development also raises questions about the long-term sustainability of Uganda’s oil sector. The arrest of the students adds to the growing number of protests against the pipeline, with activists consistently calling for a halt to the project due to concerns over human rights violations, environmental degradation, and the future impact on local livelihoods.