"'A Nightmare Named Total' in Uganda: new report reveals extent of violations by French oil major on the eve of the appeal court judgement in duty of vigilance case", 3 Dec 2020

Based on field research, the report has been submitted as evidence in the historic court case against Total, led by these two French organisations and four Ugandan groups. Following the hearing held on 28 October in Versailles, France, the court of appeal ruling is expected on 10 December, 2020.

This ruling is particularly important as it is the first ever legal action filed under the 2017 French law on the duty of vigilance of transnational corporations...

The Tilenga (oil extraction in the heart of a natural park) and EACOP (giant heated oil pipeline) projects, both led by Total, are causing massive forced displacements in Uganda and in Tanzania, amongst other impacts. Tens of thousands of people are now totally or partially deprived of their land, even before receiving any compensation.

The report by Friends of the Earth France and Survie, “A Nightmare Named Total”, includes numerous testimonies collected in several Ugandan districts affected by these two projects, reporting situations of hunger and school dropouts directly caused by Total’s activities. The people affected by the projects explain that, despite having lost their livelihoods for two years already, they still have no information as to when they will receive compensation, or how much they are owed. Many of them testify to having signed land acquisition forms following pressure and intimidations from Total and its subcontractors...

The report is published in English one week before the Versailles Court of Appeal in France issues its ruling, due on 10 December 2020.