JINJA, UGANDA – June 14, 2024 – This morning, from 9 AM to 10 AM, youth climate activists gathered in Kakira, a small village in Jinja, to demand that major financial institutions immediately withdraw their support for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). This fossil fuel project poses significant threats to local communities, biodiversity, and the global climate.
The protest specifically targeted institutions such as Standard Bank, Stanbic Bank Uganda, KCB Bank Uganda, and Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Development Corporation, all of which have recently confirmed their financial backing for the 1,443-kilometer heated crude oil pipeline, sparking widespread condemnation from environmental and human rights groups.
A Project Fraught with Controversy
“EACOP has already devastated thousands of families who have lost their land with unfair compensation,” stated Wafula Simon, one of the event organizers. “With oil fields encroaching on vital ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots such as Murchison Falls National Park and the shores of Lake Albert, and projected annual emissions exceeding 34 million tons of CO2, this project represents an unacceptable threat to Uganda’s people, wildlife, and future.”
Youth-Led Movement Takes Action
The Stop Financing EACOP campaign, led by young climate activists including Emmanuel Arike from End Fossil Occupy Uganda, is planning further actions to amplify their message. Prior to today’s march, organizers conducted training sessions to prepare participants for peaceful yet impactful protests.
“As young people, we refuse to inherit a damaged planet and devastated communities,” said Emmanuel Arike. “We are mobilizing civil society to halt EACOP before irreversible harm is done. The banks financing this project must listen to our voices and withdraw their support immediately.”
The campaign combines street protests with vigorous social media advocacy to amplify their demands globally, pressuring financial institutions to reconsider their involvement in what activists are calling a “climate bomb.”
Growing Opposition to EACOP
The EACOP project, led by TotalEnergies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, has faced increasing criticism for its environmental impact and human rights violations. The project has already displaced approximately 13,000 people in Uganda and Tanzania, with projections indicating it could affect over 100,000 people. It also poses risks to critical water sources, including Lake Victoria, which provides water to 40 million people.
Despite banks’ stated climate commitments, the recent financing announcements have sparked outrage among environmental groups worldwide, who have condemned the “tone-deaf decision” to fund the project amid ongoing human rights concerns and the climate crisis.
Call to Action
The youth climate activists are calling on:
- All financial institutions to immediately withdraw funding from EACOP.
- The Ugandan government to prioritize renewable energy development.
- International allies to support the campaign through solidarity actions.
- Media to spotlight the devastating impacts of EACOP on communities and climate.
The march in Kakira is part of a series of planned actions aimed at raising awareness and pressuring financial backers of EACOP. All concerned citizens, especially young people, are invited to join this critical stand for climate justice and community rights.
For more information about the Stop Financing EACOP campaign or to arrange interviews with organizers, please contact: