Agroup of Ugandan farmers and environmental advocates are preparing a legal challenge in the United Kingdom aimed at halting the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, a major energy infrastructure project that is nearing completion. The case is expected to be filed in London in the coming weeks and reflects an escalation of transnational legal strategies in disputes over fossil fuel development.
The 1,443 kilometre pipeline, designed to transport crude oil from oilfields in western Uganda to the Tanzanian port of Tanga, is reported to be approximately 78 percent complete. The project is operated by EACOP Ltd, a company registered in the United Kingdom, and is led by TotalEnergies, which holds a majority stake of 62 percent. Other shareholders include the Uganda National Oil Company and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, each with 15 percent, and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation with 8 percent.
The claimants, represented by the London based law firm Leigh Day, argue that the project raises legal and environmental concerns that extend beyond national borders. Their case is expected to rely in part on the jurisdictional link created by the company’s registration in the UK. Previous legal challenges in East Africa and in France have not halted the project, although they have contributed to sustained scrutiny and public debate.
Those bringing the case contend that the pipeline may have implications for constitutional environmental rights in Uganda, including the right to a clean and healthy environment. They also raise concerns about compliance with Uganda’s environmental and climate legislation. The project has drawn attention from civil society organisations, including Avaaz, which has supported fundraising efforts related to the legal proceedings.
Environmental concerns associated with the pipeline have been widely discussed. The infrastructure will pass through ecologically sensitive regions in both Uganda and Tanzania, including areas near Lake Victoria and habitats that support diverse wildlife. Observers have highlighted potential risks linked to oil spills, land use changes, and the broader carbon footprint associated with oil production and consumption. Estimates cited by campaign groups suggest that lifecycle emissions linked to the project could be substantial, although such projections are contested and depend on a range of assumptions about future production and consumption patterns.
At the same time, the governments of Uganda and Tanzania have consistently framed the pipeline as a strategic development initiative. The project is expected to enable the export of Uganda’s oil reserves, generate public revenue, and support infrastructure development. For both countries, the pipeline forms part of wider efforts to leverage natural resources for economic transformation, energy security, and regional integration.
The case unfolding in London reflects a broader global trend in which courts are increasingly being used to test the responsibilities of corporations and states in relation to climate change and environmental protection. Legal scholars and practitioners have noted that such cases often engage complex questions about jurisdiction, corporate accountability, and the balance between development priorities and environmental stewardship.
Across the African continent, debates around projects such as EACOP are shaped by diverse perspectives. Some emphasise the urgency of economic development, job creation, and energy access, particularly in regions where poverty levels remain high and infrastructure gaps persist. Others highlight the long term environmental costs and the vulnerability of many African communities to climate variability and ecological disruption.
As the pipeline approaches completion, the outcome of the proposed legal challenge may have implications not only for this project but also for how similar disputes are addressed in the future. It also underscores the evolving role of African communities and civil society actors in engaging with global legal systems to assert their interests and concerns.
The Southern African Times will continue to follow developments in this case as it progresses through the courts.
