In a troubling turn of events, the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has arrested Stephen Kwikiriza, a prominent human rights defender and environmental activist, allegedly for his opposition to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). According to a press release from the Environment Governance Institute (EGI), where Kwikiriza works, he was apprehended under “alarming circumstances” in Kampala on June 4.
Kwikiriza, who has been vocal against the crude oil pipeline project, was reportedly detained by military officers in plain clothes. Shortly after his detainment, he confirmed his arrest via a text message to a colleague, but has since been unreachable, with his phone numbers offline and no further communication received. The EGI notes that his current location and the charges against him remain unknown, despite a legal team’s efforts to locate him in various military and police detention centers.
This incident highlights continuing tensions surrounding the EACOP, a controversial project co-managed by Total Energies, the China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC), and the governments of Uganda and Tanzania. The pipeline, extending over 1,000 kilometers from western Uganda to Tanzania’s eastern coast, has been the focal point for environmental and human rights activism due to concerns over environmental degradation, land loss, and violations of local communities’ rights.
EGI and Stop EACOP, a coalition resisting the pipeline, have denounced Kwikiriza’s detention as an “abduction” and a part of a broader pattern of intimidation faced by activists. Both organizations have demanded Kwikiriza’s immediate release and a thorough investigation into his arrest. Earlier this year, legal actions against student protesters and other environmental advocates further illustrated the contentious nature of the pipeline project and local authorities’ efforts to suppress opposition through harassment and imprisonments.
As Uganda proceeds with the EACOP project, legal professionals and human rights advocates will be closely monitoring the developments and the Ugandan government’s response to growing global and domestic scrutiny.
For more detailed coverage on this arrest and the ongoing opposition to the EACOP project, visit the original article.