EACOP project undermining the fight against climate change: Environment Activists tell Financiers.

The momentum of Climate activists in East Africa and abroad against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has taken a twist to greater risks and deeper solidarity with various Eastern Africa CSOs urging financiers of the project to reconsider and invest in green industries

Over 51 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from Uganda, Tanzania, and DRC have called upon financing banks yet to commit their participation to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project to reconsider their prospects and channel their investment into the green industry to prevent the projects' effects on the environment and people in East Africa and beyond.

Climate Activists' Concerns:

The call follows an announcement made by the banks to close the agreement for the first tranche of financing needed for the EACOP project.

“Financiers who are yet to commit and are considering participating in the project should desist from doing so. Instead of funding East Africans' destruction, they should finance their prosperity through investing in green industries.  Should financial institutions continue to prioritize profits over the lives and well-being of East Africans, legal and other actions could be considered against them,” a joint message to the financiers reads in part.

 “It is unfortunate that banks, which claim to be working towards the prosperity of African people, are financing projects such as the EACOP that will worsen the climate crisis, have caused the displacement of tens of thousands of people, stand to worsen biodiversity loss, and are a threat to livelihoods in the agricultural, business and tourism among sectors” the statement partly reads.

“Stanbic Bank Uganda, you’re funding a project that threatens Uganda’s water sources, biodiversity & the livelihoods of millions. Even major banks have refused to touch EACOP- why are you still involved?” an X statement from AFIEGO reads

Executive Director of Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO), Dickens Kamugisha in an interview, disclosed a number of incidents caused by the impacts of climate change in different places, including Uganda and Tanzania.

“In the wee hours of March 26, 2025, unrelenting rainfall battered the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA), and the city experienced immense flooding. Seven people, including two children, were reported to have died from the floods. In Tanzania, landslides in Hanang District, one the EACOP-affected districts, on December 2-3, 2023, killed at least 89 people.   In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), dry weather conditions in January and February 2025 affected parts of the country with an effect on agricultural investments and fishing production,” reads the statement

The mentioned five banks that the EACOP Company says are part of the deal to provide the first tranche of financing include the African Export and Import (Afrexim) Bank, Standard Bank from South Africa, and Stanbic Bank Uganda. Others include KCB Bank Uganda and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector.

The EACOP, a pipeline whose full value chain carbon emissions over 25 years are estimated at over 379 million metric tons of carbon.

The CSOs championing this cause include the following:

Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO), Uganda, Environment Governance Institute Uganda (EGI), Uganda, Center for Environment Research and Agricultural Innovations (CERAI), Uganda, Women on Environment Mission (WEM), Uganda, Initiative for Green Planet (IGP), Uganda, Youth for Green Communities (YGC), Uganda, Center for Conservation and Ecoenergy Initiative (CCEI), Uganda,  Strategic Response on Environment Conservation (STREC), Uganda, Liberty Pro Bono initiative (LPI), Uganda, Activists for Climate Justice Initiative (A4C), Uganda, Africa Initiative on Food Security and Environment (AIFE), Uganda, East African Crude Oil Pipeline Host Communities (EACOP HC), Uganda, Organization for Community Engagement, Tanzania, Earth Care Foundation, Tanzania, Kigoma Development Organization, Tanzania, Green Conservers, Tanzania, Climate Justice Coalition, Tanzania, Alerte Congolaise pour l'environnement et les droits de l'homme (ACEDH), DR Congo, Fédération des Comités des Pêcheurs du Lac Albert (FECOPELA), DR Congo, Cadre de Concertation sur les Ressources Naturelles (CdC/RN), DR Congo, Forum des Engagés pour le Développement Durable (FORED), DR Congo  among others.

The legal battle:

The legal battle against EACOP began in November 2020 as part of broader efforts to halt the pipeline’s construction.

The 1,443-kilometer pipeline, spearheaded by TotalEnergies and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), in partnership with Uganda and Tanzania, is designed to transport crude oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert to the Tanzanian port of Tanga.

While proponents of the EACOP project argue that it will stimulate economic development, critics—including environmental groups—warn that it poses significant risks, including threats to biodiversity, water sources, and local livelihoods.

Dickens Kamugisha, called on Uganda and Tanzania to prioritize climate action over investing in fossil fuel projects.

“African states, given their vulnerability to climate change, should lead by example. Avoiding climate-wrecking projects like EACOP strengthens their position when negotiating with heavily polluting nations,” he said.

If the appellate court finds in favor of the appellants, the case will be sent back to the First Instance Division for a full trial based on its merits.

Court session 

EACOP meets CSOs.

On 29th November 2024, EACOP held a meeting with members of the CSCO civil society in Kampala to discuss the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project’s progress, impacts, and collaboration opportunities.

The event brought together civil society representatives, government officials, and EACOP leadership, including the incoming Managing Director, Guillaume Dulout, and Deputy Managing Director, John Bosco Habumugisha.

The discussions focused on transparency, sustainability, and fostering inclusive partnerships to ensure the project delivers shared benefits to all stakeholders.

During the meeting, EACOP shared updates on the 1,443-kilometer pipeline’s technical progress, including design features, leak detection mechanisms, and heating systems. Social and environmental aspects were central to the dialogue, with EACOP highlighting its efforts in land acquisition, where 98% of affected land has been acquired consensually, and community development initiatives such as livelihood restoration, vocational training, and housing for displaced families. Civil society representatives raised concerns about compensation adequacy, land-for-land alternatives, and the need for humane displacement processes, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based advocacy and informed community participation.

Group photo of CSOs, EACOP representatives after the meeting.

Managing Director Guillaume Dulout emphasized the crucial role of civil society in shaping the project’s sustainable and inclusive implementation. He highlighted EACOP’s commitment to human rights, gender equity, and grievance redress mechanisms, while encouraging collaboration to empower communities, particularly marginalized groups like women and youth. He also reaffirmed EACOP’s dedication to balancing economic development with environmental protection through initiatives such as biodiversity offsets, tree planting campaigns, and renewable energy promotion in affected areas.

The meeting highlighted the shared vision of achieving sustainable development while addressing community and environmental concerns. Both EACOP and civil society reaffirmed their commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration to ensure the pipeline project benefits communities, supports regional growth, and adheres to high environmental standards.