Four Ugandan farmers have initiated a lawsuit in London's High Court targeting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a $5.6 billion project majority-owned by French energy company TotalEnergies. The farmers are seeking an injunction to prevent the pipeline, which is approximately 80% built, from becoming operational. This legal action marks the first attempt to have Ugandan climate and environmental protections enforced in a foreign court against a UK-registered entity.
The lawsuit, filed by London-based law firm Leigh Day, contends that EACOP Ltd's role in developing and operating the 1,443-kilometer pipeline violates Ugandan laws safeguarding citizens' rights to a clean and healthy environment. These include Article 39 of the Ugandan Constitution, a 2019 environmental law, and the National Climate Change Act 2021. Claimants, like Racheal Tugume, assert they have been displaced and that construction has damaged local rivers, wildlife, and ecosystems, while posing broader climate risks.
The pipeline is projected to carry 216,000 barrels of crude oil per day at peak production, potentially releasing over 33 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Over its 25-year lifespan, total greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain could reach an estimated 379 million tonnes. Critics, including the campaign group Avaaz, label the project a "carbon bomb" due to its significant environmental and climate impact. The pipeline is also expected to affect 158 wetlands, 11 rivers, 44 protected areas, and seven key biodiversity areas in Uganda.
The farmers' primary goal is to stop the pipeline's operations, with first oil exports anticipated as early as October. While it may take approximately 12 months for a first hearing and 18 months for a trial, the lawsuit aims to halt operations, even if shipments begin, to mitigate long-term harm. The case is notable for attempting to apply Ugandan law in a British court, partly reflecting concerns about receiving a fair trial in Uganda for challenges against the multi-billion-dollar project.
The pipeline, which will transport crude from Uganda's Lake Albert oil fields to Tanzania's Tanga port, has already displaced thousands and cuts through the Lake Victoria basin, a vital water source for about 40 million people. TotalEnergies states it has adopted strict environmental safeguards. Despite the ongoing construction, environmental groups and some affected communities argue the project threatens sensitive ecosystems and local livelihoods, leading numerous international banks and insurers to decline financing or insurance for the project.
