Ugandan Inspector General of Police: Release students protesting EACOP

Ugandan police have arrested nine students for organizing a peaceful protest against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

The students now face the brutal force of the government. No one should go to jail for exercising their constitutional right to protest.

Call for their release. Add your name.

View the full petition text.

Call for the students release:

On Tuesday, 4th of October, David Musiri, Lyazi Alex, Java Imuran, Wenani Gerald, Nkurunziza Alphonse, Kajubi Maktum, Akiso Benjamin, Akis Gonga and Lubega Nsamba were arrested for peacefully protesting EACOP and the impacts it will have on the people, nature and climate.¹

We are calling for:

The immediate release of the nine students detained by the police in Kampala, Uganda.
The police to drop the bogus charges against them.
No further police harassment of peaceful protests in Uganda.
A public apology to the victims of this harassment and their families.

If built, EACOP will cause devastation for the people of Uganda and Tanzania.

EACOP is a pipeline that will run through the basin of Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria, which more than 40 million people depend on for water and food. It will force over 100,000 people from their land. Just one oil spill could be catastrophic for the people and wildlife of the region.²

This is not the first time the Ugandan government has arrested people for peacefully protesting. Many people who exercise their constitutional right to oppose projects, like EACOP, face intimidation, harassment, and arrest.³

This arrest ignores their rights and freedoms as citizens of Uganda. It is a human rights violation against those who opposed the EACOP project.

Over 100 civil society organizations from Uganda, East Africa, Africa and the whole world are calling for their release.⁴ The Ugandan government needs to protect its citizens’ rights first - not corporate greed.

Sources

1. http://www.autoreportafrica.com/ugandan-students-arrested-during-protests-against-eacop-project/ & https://www.stopeacop.net/our-news/petition-for-release-of-9-students-protesting-against-eacop

2. https://www.stopeacop.net/for-people

3. https://www.stopeacop.net/our-news/uganda-six-staff-members-of-our-partner-organisation-afiego-in-custody

4. https://www.stopeacop.net/our-news/petition-for-release-of-9-students-protesting-against-eacop

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