Nine student activists have been arrested following a peaceful demonstration in Kampala, Uganda. The arrested students were part of a larger group who were protesting Stanbic Uganda's decision to offer partial funding for the destructive East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) as part of an initial funding tranche. 

Today’s arrests happened as the students attempted to deliver a memorandum demanding that Stanbic immediately withdraw its support for EACOP. The heavy-handed crackdown forms part of a larger trend of repression against anyone who speaks out against EACOP and is yet another sign of how this pipeline is being imposed on Ugandans through force, intimidation and silencing, while legitimate concerns over the project remain unanswered.

“The institutions agreeing to give capital to EACOP have marked themselves as enablers of climate chaos, environmental destruction, and the continued exploitation of Africa’s natural resources for the benefit of international profiteers- at the direct expense of local communities. Today’s arrests further confirm this reality - banks like Stanbic are not only bankrolling environmental devastation but are also complicit in the suppression of those who dare to resist.”, said StopEACOP Campaign Coordinator, Zaki Mamdoo. 

The petition the students delivered highlights several concerns with Stanbic Bank's involvement in the EACOP project, including: environmental impacts, human rights violations, forced displacements and inadequate compensation; not forgetting the reputational risks the project poses to Stanbic Bank Uganda.

The youth-led student climate movement in Uganda is demanding the immediate release of their comrades and calls on Stanbic Bank to publicly condemn the violent arrests and the concerns raised in their petition.

"We have the right to speak out against a project that threatens our futures, yet time and again, we are met with repression instead of dialogue. We demand the immediate release of all those arrested and an end to the ongoing suppression of nonviolent action.", said Alphonse Nkurukiza, a student activist with Students Against EACOP Uganda.

The StopEACOP campaign stands in solidarity with the student climate movement and continues to call for Stanbic Bank Uganda to divest from EACOP. It urges other potential lenders to publicly distance themselves from this controversial project.

"These arrests are unlawful and yet another example of the Ugandan authorities using repression to stifle legitimate dissent. Peaceful protest is a constitutional right, yet time and again, those speaking out against EACOP face arbitrary detention and intimidation. ", said Brighton Aryampa, a lawyer supporting the arrested students. 

Notes to editors:

Photos and videos can be found here.

About StopEACOP Campaign

#StopEACOP is a global campaign against constructing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). This proposed 1,443-kilometre heated pipeline will transport oil from Hoima, Uganda, to the port of Tanga in Tanzania. An alliance of local groups, communities, and African and global organizations leads the campaign. The #StopEACOP Coalition has been calling for a stop to the proposed pipeline and associated oil fields at Tilenga and Kingfisher. The #StopEACOP campaign is gathering momentum, building pressure on the remaining supporters and financiers of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. To date, 43 banks and 29 (re) insurers have already ruled out support for EACOP.