On June 4, an Ugandan activist Stephen Kwikiriza was detained by Uganda People’s Defence Force in Kampala. The activist was campaigning against the development of a crude oil pipeline by France’s TotalEnergies in East Africa.
To stop the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Stephen Kwikiriza has been been running a campaign. He works under the Kingfisher project ant the Environment Governance Institute (EGI). According to a press release by Environment Governance Institute (EGI) Stephen Kwikiriza was arrested under alarming circumstances.
Arrest of the Ugandan Activist
On the morning of 4 June on the day of arrest, officers from Uganda People’s Defence Force entered the town wearing plain white clothes. Then we went on to send a text message to his colleague from EGI about his whereabouts. He also mentioned about detention, although did not mention any details or reasons behind the arrest. After which Kwikiriza’s phone was unreachable hence no further communication was established.
The members of EGI have confirmed that no details were received on Stephen Kwikiriza’s current conditions, location or the charges put against him. Even after 24 hours plus of efforts the legal team could not find his whereabouts.
Due to perceived threat from Uganda People’s Defence Force Kwikiriza was already living at an undisclosed location since March. The members of EGI and the STOP EACOP campaign faulted Stephen Kwikiriza’s arrest. It is referred as an abduction of environment activists by these members
Decoding East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)
It is a controversial project of building a buried pipeline over a stretch of 1,445 kilometres. It would be starting from the western Uganda to the Eastern coast of Tanzania. The pipeline is estimated to be a worth of $5 billion. The oil would be sold into the international market from Tanzania. The project is going to be operated in partnership between French organization Total Energies and China’s National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC). Additionally it will also include the governments of Uganda and Tanzania.
Opponents of the pipeline, such as Human Rights Watch, claim the project will ruin delicate ecosystems, force hundreds of thousands of people to relocate, and jeopardize attempts to reduce carbon emissions.
Stop EACOP Campaign
Environmental activists are protesting against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project because of its harmful effects on the environment, wildlife and also the local communities. Loss of land, Human rights violations, environmental degradation etc are few issues related to the project.
Many violent protests happened in the region against the implementation of this project which were curbed by the local authorities. Additionally, Eleven university students were imprisoned for protesting against the EACOP project.
Pressure group organizations claim that activists who have been advocating against EACOP are being harassed by Ugandan authorities. However, authorities in Uganda refuse to accept the allegation. As they were ready to deliver a petition to the Chinese ambassador pleading with China not to fund the pipeline, seven activists were briefly arrested outside the Chinese embassy in Kampala last month.
Conclusion
The detention of the Ugandan Activist underscores the reality behind the challenges faced by the environmental activist advocating for sustainability. Despite efforts to raise awareness about the environmental and social implications of oil pipelines, activists often encounter resistance from governments and corporations vested interests in resource extraction projects.
This incident highlights the need for greater protection of activists’ rights to peacefully express dissent and engage in advocacy. Activists should have the freedom to express themselves without fear of retaliation or persecution. Additionally, it urges greater international cooperation and support for local activists fighting for environmental justice and sustainable development in areas impacted by extractive industries.
