Friday, May 23rd, 2025 | By
Dozens of people including university students from Makerere, Kampala international and Kyambogo were arrested at the end of May this year during a peaceful protest against the East African crude oil pipeline project EACOP near Lugogo Bypass, Nakawa Division in Kampala City.
The aim for this peaceful protest was intended to demand KCB bank to withdraw its financial support from the project since to them it involves violation of human and environmental rights.
The EACOP project stretches from Kabaale in Hoima District of western Uganda to Tanga port in Tanzania. It is intended to transport crude oil from Uganda’s Albertine region to Tanga port in Tanzania and it will be the longest heated crude oil pipeline in the world once it’s done.
KCB bank is one of the funders that have continuously financed the project despite it being deemed by activists as dangerous to the environment and people.
The protesters included Shafick Karyango, a representative of students against EACOP, Habib Karungu,Shamim Nalwadda,Kyosimire, JoweriaTopista ,Nakyambadde and Bernad Mutenyo who, by the time of filing this story, were still detained at the old Kira road police division in Kampala city.
“The government claims that we are sponsored by foreign entities which is not right, our families are victims of this project”, explained Mr. Shafick Karyango
Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson Patrick onyango explained to the press that the protest was illegal and it had not secured clearance from the inspector general of police (IGP).
It should also be noted that this is not the first group to protest against this project since many people have fallen victims to this matter.
Despite several protests and warnings from the environmental and human rights activists, the government has not been moved nor its financial funders like KCB total energies among others.
Compiled by Joannie Nteza
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