Police have arrested nine environmental activists over protest against KCB Bank’s involvement in funding the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project.
The activists were arrested on Wednesday while demonstrating at KCB Bank’s offices and were later taken into custody at Kira Road Police Station.
Those detained have been identified as Arafat Mawanda, Joweria Kyosimire, Theopista Nakyambadde, Shamim Narwadda, Baker Tamale, Bernard Mutenyo, Stephen Ojok, Habibu Nalungu, and Oscar Nuwagaba.
The protest was staged following the activists’ submission of a petition to KCB Bank, urging the institution to withdraw its financial support for the EACOP project.
"We also call on other potential lenders who have not already distanced themselves from this anti-developmental project to do so publicly ensuring that our communities are protected and the sustainability of our planet is upheld,” reads part of the petition.
Dated May 21 and addressed to KCB Bank’s Executive Director Agnes Mayanja, the petition criticised the bank’s decision to fund the project amidst ongoing crackdowns on human rights, environmental defenders, and land rights activists in Uganda and Tanzania.
The petition claims this reflects a disconnect from local realities and raises questions about the bank’s due diligence.
According to police, the arrested individuals will face charges of public nuisance.
The protest came in response to EACOP Ltd’s March 27 announcement that it had completed its first round of debt financing.
The funds were secured through a consortium of five banks from Africa and the Middle East, signaling growing investor support for the Uganda-Tanzania oil pipeline, despite continued environmentalist opposition.
Leading the financial group is Stanbic Bank Uganda and its parent company, Standard Bank of South Africa.
Other institutions include the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and KCB Bank Uganda Ltd, a subsidiary of the Kenya Commercial Bank Group.
Wednesday’s demonstration follows a similar protest last month, during which nine youth activists were arrested in Kampala after demonstrating at Stanbic Bank’s headquarters to oppose its involvement in the EACOP project.
Activists claim the project has displaced over 10,000 families and led to the arrest of more than 100 demonstrators.
They also allege that activists have been subjected to abductions and other human rights violations.
The EACOP is a pipeline that will transport oil produced from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to the port of Tanga in Tanzania where the oil will then be sold onwards to world markets.
EACOP runs 1,443km from Kabaale, Hoima district in Uganda to the Chongoleani Peninsula near Tanga Port in Tanzania. 80% of the pipeline is in Tanzania.