A regional court has dealt a major blow to civil society efforts to hold the oil consortium behind the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) accountable, but the underlying controversy is far from over.
On 26 November 2025, the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) dismissed a petition filed by four civil society organisations (CSOs) challenging the EACOP project, citing procedural grounds. The court ruled that the case was submitted outside the statutory 60-day filing window, effectively upholding a lower-court decision from 2023.
Background to the Case
The legal action was first filed in 2020 by a coalition of civil society groups, including AFIEGO, CEFROHT, Natural Justice, and Centre for Strategic Litigation (CSL). They argued that EACOP, a 1,443-kilometre heated crude-oil pipeline linking oilfields around Lake Albert in Uganda to a port on the Indian Ocean in Tanzania, would cause severe human-rights violations, environmental damage, biodiversity loss, and contribute to climate change.
Their petition called for a comprehensive judicial review of the project under the terms of the East African Community treaty, including a transboundary Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) supervised by the EAC Secretariat.
Why the Court Dismissed It
Rather than evaluating the merits of the activists’ arguments, the EACJ determined the petition invalid on procedural grounds: it was filed beyond the 60 days allowed for such challenges.This means the court did not consider evidence about land loss, ecosystem disruption or wider climate impact — issues at the heart of the activists’ concerns. As one of their lawyers, Dale Onyango, lamented, “the case has not been heard, not on its merits.”
Reaction and Implications
For the affected communities and environmental campaigners, the ruling is deeply disappointing. Many had pinned hopes on the EACJ as a venue for justice and accountability. “This ruling is a blow for affected communities,” said lawyer Coleen Scott, denouncing the decision as vindicating a “reckless gamble.”
Residents who lost land, such as 74-year-old farmer Yiga Cosmas, say they signed what they believed to be fair compensation agreements, only to face what they describe as undervaluation of crops and the loss of vital income.
Activists warn that the project remains a “carbon bomb,” with the potential to devastate critical ecosystems, displace tens of thousands, and exacerbate the climate crisis.
What Happens Next
With this judicial avenue closed at least for now, the activists’ legal options appear extremely limited. Some campaigners have already signalled intent to explore other domestic or international routes for redress, though success is uncertain.
Meanwhile, the EACOP project, backed by TotalEnergies alongside the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and the state-owned Uganda National Oil Company, continues their work. Supporters argue the pipeline promises economic gains for Uganda and Tanzania, including jobs and revenue for impoverished regions.
The EACJ’s dismissal of the activists’ case underscores the legal and procedural barriers that environmental and human-rights defenders often face in confronting powerful energy interests. While the decision may close one chapter in the fight against EACOP, the broader struggle around land rights, community compensation, environmental protection, and climate justice remains unresolved.
Source: E.Africa Court Dismisses Activists’ Case With TotalEnergies, Channels Television, 26 November 2025.
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