"Civil Society Calls for Fresh Hearing of EACOP Case After Kigali Sitting", 26 February 2025

The Appellate Division of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) recently heard an appeal challenging the dismissal of a lawsuit against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project.

The appeal, filed by four civil society organisations (CSOs), seeks to have the case reconsidered on its merits after the First Instance Division of the EACJ dismissed it in November 2023 on procedural grounds…

The appellants—AFIEGO (Uganda), CEFROHT (Uganda), Natural Justice (Kenya), and the Centre for Strategic Litigation (Tanzania)—argued that their lawsuit was dismissed unfairly and that the First Instance Court had improperly evaluated evidence before making its ruling…

The appellants' legal team also expressed concerns about the impact of awarding legal costs against civil society groups…

After hearing arguments from both sides, including legal representatives for Uganda, Tanzania, and the EAC Secretary General, the appellate judges reserved their ruling, stating that it would be delivered “on notice.”…

The legal battle against EACOP began in November 2020 as part of broader efforts to halt the pipeline’s construction.

The 1,443-kilometer pipeline, spearheaded by TotalEnergies and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), in partnership with Uganda and Tanzania, is designed to transport crude oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert to the Tanzanian port of Tanga.

While proponents of the EACOP project argue that it will stimulate economic development, critics—including environmental groups—warn that it poses significant risks, including threats to biodiversity, water sources, and local livelihoods….

If the appellate court finds in favor of the appellants, the case will be sent back to the First Instance Division for a full trial based on its merits.