Four Ugandan farmers have filed a case in London’s High Court seeking to halt the controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), marking the first attempt to have a British court apply Ugandan constitutional, environmental and climate laws against a UK-registered company.
The lawsuit targets EACOP Ltd, the company incorporated in England and Wales that is overseeing the 1,443-kilometre pipeline project. The farmers argue the project has violated their rights by affecting their land, livelihoods and the environment, and are asking the court to prevent the pipeline from becoming operational.
The $5.6 billion pipeline, backed by France’s TotalEnergies, Uganda National Oil Company, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation and China’s CNOOC, is designed to transport crude oil from Uganda’s Albertine region to Tanzania’s Indian Ocean port of Tanga. It is expected to begin operations in 2027.
Campaigners have long opposed the project, citing concerns over environmental damage, climate change and the displacement of local communities. Uganda’s government and TotalEnergies have defended the pipeline, saying it will create jobs, boost investment and unlock the country’s oil resources while complying with environmental and social standards.
The case is being closely watched as a potential test of whether UK courts can hold British-registered companies accountable for alleged environmental and human rights impacts linked to overseas projects.
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