become a donor
Het Actiefonds:

Lombokstraat 40
1094 AL Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Contact:

+31 (0)20 6279661
info@hetactiefonds.nl

NL 46 TRIO 0338622039

Follow us on:
Newsletter:
VOLUNTEER VACANCY • Board members

The fight against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline in Uganda

Uganda

ACTION · Communities and environmentalists against EACOP

Locatie

As the world is urging for rapid decarbonization, the Ugandan and Tanzanian governments, together with the French group TotalEnergies and China National Offshore Oil Corp, are steering a future locked in fossil fuel dependency with the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

climate - EACOP - oil

donate now

As the world is urging for rapid decarbonization, the Ugandan and Tanzanian governments, together with the French group TotalEnergies and China National Offshore Oil Corp, are steering a future locked in fossil fuel dependency with the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The 1443-kilometer longest heated oil pipeline in the world will transport crude oil from Lake Albert to Tanga port. The project is expected to emit 379 million tonnes of carbon over the next 25 years, contrary to global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C according to the Paris Agreement, thus increasing the climate crisis.

Action

Whereas the Ugandan government promised prosperity from the discovery of oil through infrastructure development and economic empowerment, locals have witnessed the opposite. The project that was promised to bring opportunities for the locals has instead increased vulnerability as the communities are paying a price for the profits they will never enjoy. 

 

The communities and Environmentalists Against the EACOP initiative (CEAE) aims to mobilize communities and environmental defenders to oppose this harmful project using a community-led approach.  

With the help of the Climate Justice Fund of Het Actiefonds CEAE was able to further their campaign against EACOP.  

As part of the campaign, CEAE mobilized 50 community members of several villages. Community meetings were held, during which the locals discussed the environmental and personal impacts of the project. Testimonies shared in these meetings built a strong solidarity among the locals calling for collective organizing.  

CEAE organized several trainings for 25 environmental defenders, during which they received information on human rights and constitutional protections, land laws and environmental governance, advocacy and community organizing, and digital and physical security for environmental defenders. The trainees have since been mentoring and training others in their villages, and have been using these skills for ongoing advocacy in their area.  

The initiative also amplified local voices through media engagement and peaceful civic action thus created wider public awareness of the human rights and environmental violations caused by EACOP.