Four Ugandan Farmers Sue to Halt Pipeline Before First Oil - EACOP

Four Ugandan farmers have initiated a landmark lawsuit in the UK High Court, seeking to halt the operation of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). Their legal team described the action as the first attempt to apply Ugandan constitutional, climate, and environmental law against a UK-registered company in a British court.

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The claim that's been filed today is against EACOP Ltd, which is a UK-registered company that has the potential to cause devastation in Uganda and indeed in the wider world.

The lawsuit, filed by London-based law firm Leigh Day on behalf of the farmers whose land was acquired for the pipeline, argues that construction has already inflicted damage on their livelihoods, water sources, and local ecosystems. Furthermore, the claimants contend that the pipeline's future operation presents broader environmental and climate-related risks.

Matthew Renshaw, a partner at Leigh Day, stated during a virtual press conference that the lawsuit seeks both compensation for the impacts already experienced by the communities and an order to prevent further harm. "The claim that's been filed today is against EACOP Ltd, which is a UK-registered company that has the potential to cause devastation in Uganda and indeed in the wider world," Renshaw said. He clarified that the case would be argued under Ugandan law, despite being heard in England, because EACOP Ltd is incorporated in the United Kingdom.

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The claim, even though it's being brought in the UK courts, will be brought under Ugandan law.

Renshaw explained that Uganda's legal framework permits individuals to seek redress when a company's actions threaten efforts to mitigate or adapt to climate change. The farmers are primarily seeking an injunction to stop the pipeline from operating, which Renshaw described as "at the heart of this claim." Samuel Abedilembe, one of the claimants and a farmer from Kijumba in Hoima District, reported losing 42 percent of his land and receiving insufficient compensation. "Our land is our life. Without it, we have nowhere to go," he stated, adding that construction damaged a community spring, leaving residents with muddy water after rainfall.

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The farmers are seeking an injunction stopping the pipeline from operating, describing that as 'at the heart of this claim.'

Another claimant, community leader and farmer Racheal Tugume, expressed concerns about changing weather patterns making farming increasingly unpredictable. She also voiced fears of future oil spills contaminating rivers, soils, and water sources essential for both communities and wildlife. Tugume further alleged that construction had disrupted ecosystems and natural water flows, exacerbating risks.

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Our land is our life. Without it, we have nowhere to go.