Ugandan farmers sue UK-registered EACOP Ltd over pipeline's environmental and constitutional violations

Four Ugandan farmers have filed a lawsuit in the UK High Court against EACOP Ltd, the British-registered company financing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, arguing that the project violates Uganda's constitution and environmental laws. The pipeline, led by French energy firm TotalEnergies and valued at $5.6 billion, is set to begin operations in 2027 and would stretch 1,443km from Uganda's oilfields near Lake Albert to the Tanzanian port of Tanga. The claimants say the project will displace over 100,000 people and threaten freshwater systems and protected habitats. They are seeking remedies including an injunction to halt oil transportation through the pipeline. The case is supported by rights group Avaaz, which described it as the first time Ugandan environmental law has been invoked in a foreign court. Avaaz called the litigation a "global test case" on whether large fossil fuel projects can proceed amid growing legal and community resistance. The claim was filed before the pipeline becomes operational, aiming to apply Ugandan legal standards to a company incorporated in England and Wales. Last week, a Paris court ruled that TotalEnergies is liable for emissions generated by its clients, a decision seen as significant for climate litigation. TotalEnergies has maintained that it has taken strict measures to mitigate environmental damage, including restoring forests and wetlands. Some Ugandan opponents of the pipeline have reported intimidation and arrests by local police, as the project remains a political priority in the region. The UK court will now determine whether it can enforce Ugandan environmental and constitutional protections against the UK-registered entity.

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