Ugandan Farmers Challenge TotalEnergies' Pipeline in UK Court

By David Okafor

Four Ugandan farmers have initiated legal action in the UK High Court against EACOP Ltd, the entity responsible for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), seeking to apply Ugandan environmental laws in a UK jurisdiction. The lawsuit, announced by human rights group Avaaz, aims to halt the pipeline's operations.

The pipeline, valued at approximately $5.6 billion, is set to span 1,443 kilometers from Uganda's Tilenga and Kingfisher oil fields to Tanzania's port of Tanga. TotalEnergies holds a 62% stake in the project, with the remainder owned by the Uganda National Oil Company, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, and CNOOC.

The plaintiffs argue that the project violates Ugandan constitutional and environmental laws, including the National Environment Act and the National Climate Change Act. They are seeking an injunction to prevent oil transport through the pipeline, along with compensation for affected communities.

Over 100,000 people, predominantly farmers, have been displaced due to land acquisition for the pipeline. The route also traverses sensitive ecological areas, raising concerns about biodiversity and water resources.

This legal action follows a dismissed case in French courts under France's Duty of Vigilance Law. The UK case is part of a broader trend of using multinational parent companies' jurisdictions to hold them accountable for overseas activities.