On 22 October 2021, six Ugandan rights campaigners from Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO), including CEO Dickens Kamugisha, assistant communications officer Rachael Amongin, accountant Catherine Twongyeirwe, Mercy Nuwamanya, Paul Kato and Patrick Edema, were arrested reportedly without formal charge. Rights group allege that the arrests are aimed to silence their criticism of energy projects including the Tilenga oil project, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), operated by Total, Tullow, and CNOOC, and a proposed refinery. Recently, AFIEGO had also filed a case against the approval of the environmental and social impact assessment report of Hoima Sugar Limited.

The six defenders were previously arrested on 13 October, released on bail and re-arrested on 22 October 2021.