The four Ugandan activists arrested protesting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) post defiantly after their release on July 12, 2023.
Climate Activists Demand Justice for 'Unjustly' Arrested Ugandan Anti-EACOP Protesters
"The arrests of these activists are a clear attempt to silence dissent and suppress opposition to the EACOP," said one organizer.
Climate campaigners around the world on Wednesday urged Ugandan authorities to drop charges against four climate activists arrested and jailed overnight after peacefully protesting a highly controversial oil pipeline under construction in the region.
Bob Barigye, Mutesi Zarika, Naruwada Shamim, and Nalusiba Phionah were violently arrested Tuesday in the capital Kampala for protesting the environmental and social impacts of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The activists—who were later released on bond—were charged with inciting violence.
However, the #StopEACOP coalition—which said the protesters were "unjustly" arrested and jailed—argued that photos and videos from the demonstration show that it was peaceful.
"The arrests of these activists are a clear attempt to silence dissent and suppress opposition to the EACOP," the coalition's campaign coordinator, Zaki Mamdoo, said in a statement. "We call upon the international community and civil society organizations to join us in condemning these arrests and demanding justice for those detained."
Samuel Okulony, director of the Environment Governance Institute, said that "it is not a crime to voice opposition to the controversial EACOP project or to advocate for the government and project proponents to explore alternative, sustainable solutions."
"Peaceful protest and dialogue are fundamental pillars of a democratic society, and these rights must be protected and upheld," Okulony added.
Charity Migwi, the African regional campaigner for U.S.-based 350.org, condemned the arrests "in the strongest terms possible."
"These activists were exercising their democratic right to peacefully protest against a project that they believe will have devastating consequences for the environment and the people of Uganda and beyond," she said, urging the Ugandan government to "drop all charges against them."
This isn't the first time anti-EACOP activists have been arrested for peacefully protesting the pipeline. Last October, nine student leaders were arrested by police and subsequently charged with inciting violence for holding a Kampala demonstration in support of a European Parliament resolution condemning the project's human rights and environmental violations. Four more anti-EACOP activists were arrested last December.
Barigye, a 34-year-old biology teacher and climate activist, was arrested in January for anti-EACOP organizing despite having police permission to protest. Barigye told African Arguments earlier this year that he was held for four days, during which time he was "psychologically tortured" by police.
"They threatened my life and family," he said. "They dragged me into a filthy cell, made me starve... I could not sleep as they would interrogate me at any time of the night."
"We are looked at us the enemies of the state," Barigye said of the anti-EACOP activists. "The police now prefer psychological torture because physical torture will create bad publicity around the oil pipeline project, which could push away investors and insurers... The government doesn't want to be in the international spotlight for the wrong reasons."
If completed, the $3.5 billion, nearly 900-mile EACOP would transport up to 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day from fields in the Lake Albert region of western Uganda to the Tanzanian port city of Tanga on the Indian Ocean.
Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch published a report detailing how EACOP has devastated the lives and livelihoods of tens of thousands of people in its path while exacerbating the climate emergency.
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just three days to go in our Spring Campaign, we're falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Climate campaigners around the world on Wednesday urged Ugandan authorities to drop charges against four climate activists arrested and jailed overnight after peacefully protesting a highly controversial oil pipeline under construction in the region.
Bob Barigye, Mutesi Zarika, Naruwada Shamim, and Nalusiba Phionah were violently arrested Tuesday in the capital Kampala for protesting the environmental and social impacts of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The activists—who were later released on bond—were charged with inciting violence.
However, the #StopEACOP coalition—which said the protesters were "unjustly" arrested and jailed—argued that photos and videos from the demonstration show that it was peaceful.
"The arrests of these activists are a clear attempt to silence dissent and suppress opposition to the EACOP," the coalition's campaign coordinator, Zaki Mamdoo, said in a statement. "We call upon the international community and civil society organizations to join us in condemning these arrests and demanding justice for those detained."
Samuel Okulony, director of the Environment Governance Institute, said that "it is not a crime to voice opposition to the controversial EACOP project or to advocate for the government and project proponents to explore alternative, sustainable solutions."
"Peaceful protest and dialogue are fundamental pillars of a democratic society, and these rights must be protected and upheld," Okulony added.
Charity Migwi, the African regional campaigner for U.S.-based 350.org, condemned the arrests "in the strongest terms possible."
"These activists were exercising their democratic right to peacefully protest against a project that they believe will have devastating consequences for the environment and the people of Uganda and beyond," she said, urging the Ugandan government to "drop all charges against them."
This isn't the first time anti-EACOP activists have been arrested for peacefully protesting the pipeline. Last October, nine student leaders were arrested by police and subsequently charged with inciting violence for holding a Kampala demonstration in support of a European Parliament resolution condemning the project's human rights and environmental violations. Four more anti-EACOP activists were arrested last December.
Barigye, a 34-year-old biology teacher and climate activist, was arrested in January for anti-EACOP organizing despite having police permission to protest. Barigye told African Arguments earlier this year that he was held for four days, during which time he was "psychologically tortured" by police.
"They threatened my life and family," he said. "They dragged me into a filthy cell, made me starve... I could not sleep as they would interrogate me at any time of the night."
"We are looked at us the enemies of the state," Barigye said of the anti-EACOP activists. "The police now prefer psychological torture because physical torture will create bad publicity around the oil pipeline project, which could push away investors and insurers... The government doesn't want to be in the international spotlight for the wrong reasons."
If completed, the $3.5 billion, nearly 900-mile EACOP would transport up to 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day from fields in the Lake Albert region of western Uganda to the Tanzanian port city of Tanga on the Indian Ocean.
Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch published a report detailing how EACOP has devastated the lives and livelihoods of tens of thousands of people in its path while exacerbating the climate emergency.
- Climate Campaigners Urge Standard Bank to Ditch 'Alarming' East African Crude Oil Pipeline ›
- Despite Risks, Climate Activists Lead Fight Against Oil Giant's Drilling Projects in Uganda ›
- Opinion | Uniting for Change: Global Solidarity Against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline | Common Dreams ›
- Opinion | Black, Brown, and Indigenous Climate Justice Activists Take Center Stage in NYC | Common Dreams ›
- Global Protests Target Chinese Financing of East African Crude Oil Pipeline ›
- Oil Giant's AFCON Sponsorship Slammed as 'Greenwashing Stunt' ›
- Critics of East African Crude Oil Pipeline Target AIG in NYC | Common Dreams ›
- US-Trained Military in Uganda Targets Oil Pipeline Protesters | Common Dreams ›
Climate campaigners around the world on Wednesday urged Ugandan authorities to drop charges against four climate activists arrested and jailed overnight after peacefully protesting a highly controversial oil pipeline under construction in the region.
Bob Barigye, Mutesi Zarika, Naruwada Shamim, and Nalusiba Phionah were violently arrested Tuesday in the capital Kampala for protesting the environmental and social impacts of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The activists—who were later released on bond—were charged with inciting violence.
However, the #StopEACOP coalition—which said the protesters were "unjustly" arrested and jailed—argued that photos and videos from the demonstration show that it was peaceful.
"The arrests of these activists are a clear attempt to silence dissent and suppress opposition to the EACOP," the coalition's campaign coordinator, Zaki Mamdoo, said in a statement. "We call upon the international community and civil society organizations to join us in condemning these arrests and demanding justice for those detained."
Samuel Okulony, director of the Environment Governance Institute, said that "it is not a crime to voice opposition to the controversial EACOP project or to advocate for the government and project proponents to explore alternative, sustainable solutions."
"Peaceful protest and dialogue are fundamental pillars of a democratic society, and these rights must be protected and upheld," Okulony added.
Charity Migwi, the African regional campaigner for U.S.-based 350.org, condemned the arrests "in the strongest terms possible."
"These activists were exercising their democratic right to peacefully protest against a project that they believe will have devastating consequences for the environment and the people of Uganda and beyond," she said, urging the Ugandan government to "drop all charges against them."
This isn't the first time anti-EACOP activists have been arrested for peacefully protesting the pipeline. Last October, nine student leaders were arrested by police and subsequently charged with inciting violence for holding a Kampala demonstration in support of a European Parliament resolution condemning the project's human rights and environmental violations. Four more anti-EACOP activists were arrested last December.
Barigye, a 34-year-old biology teacher and climate activist, was arrested in January for anti-EACOP organizing despite having police permission to protest. Barigye told African Arguments earlier this year that he was held for four days, during which time he was "psychologically tortured" by police.
"They threatened my life and family," he said. "They dragged me into a filthy cell, made me starve... I could not sleep as they would interrogate me at any time of the night."
"We are looked at us the enemies of the state," Barigye said of the anti-EACOP activists. "The police now prefer psychological torture because physical torture will create bad publicity around the oil pipeline project, which could push away investors and insurers... The government doesn't want to be in the international spotlight for the wrong reasons."
If completed, the $3.5 billion, nearly 900-mile EACOP would transport up to 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day from fields in the Lake Albert region of western Uganda to the Tanzanian port city of Tanga on the Indian Ocean.
Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch published a report detailing how EACOP has devastated the lives and livelihoods of tens of thousands of people in its path while exacerbating the climate emergency.
- Climate Campaigners Urge Standard Bank to Ditch 'Alarming' East African Crude Oil Pipeline ›
- Despite Risks, Climate Activists Lead Fight Against Oil Giant's Drilling Projects in Uganda ›
- Opinion | Uniting for Change: Global Solidarity Against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline | Common Dreams ›
- Opinion | Black, Brown, and Indigenous Climate Justice Activists Take Center Stage in NYC | Common Dreams ›
- Global Protests Target Chinese Financing of East African Crude Oil Pipeline ›
- Oil Giant's AFCON Sponsorship Slammed as 'Greenwashing Stunt' ›
- Critics of East African Crude Oil Pipeline Target AIG in NYC | Common Dreams ›
- US-Trained Military in Uganda Targets Oil Pipeline Protesters | Common Dreams ›