On Monday, 21 activists were arrested in Kampala, including eight members of communities directly affected by the TotalEnergies oil project.
They were attempting to deliver a petition to the Ugandan Parliament and the Chinese Embassy, protesting against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project.
This 1,443-kilometer project aims to link the oil fields of Lake Albert in Uganda to the Tanzanian coast.
Demonstrators denounce the potential negative effects on local economies and the environment. The arrests come in a climate of growing tension, marked by similar events.
In June, an activist against the same project was found in a poor state after disappearing for several days, claiming to have been detained and ill-treated by soldiers.
At the beginning of August, Ugandan police had already arrested 47 people demonstrating for the same reasons.
A project with major economic implications
TotalEnergies’ oil project, carried out in partnership with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), represents an investment of $10 billion.
It includes the drilling of 419 wells in the Murchison Falls Natural Park, an area renowned for its biodiversity.
The project is part of the Ugandan government’s strategy to diversify its predominantly agricultural economy by exploiting Lake Albert’s oil reserves, estimated at 6.5 billion barrels, of which 1.4 billion are currently recoverable.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni strongly supports this initiative, which he sees as a key source of economic development for the country.
Cooperation with Tanzania and CNOOC also reflects geopolitical issues, as China strengthens its presence in Africa’s energy sector, notably through this project.
Geopolitical dimensions and local protest
This project is not limited to its economic aspect, but is also part of a broader geopolitical framework.
The collaboration between Uganda, Tanzania and CNOOC highlights Sino-African relations and China’s ambitions on the continent.
The EACOP project is an example of this dynamic, where East Africa’s natural resources become a lever for strategic international partnerships.
However, tensions surrounding the project are palpable.
The arrests of activists illustrate the local resistance to this development, despite the promises of economic spin-offs.
The challenges for the governments involved are numerous, between development expectations and the concerns of local populations and environmentalists.
