Environmental activist detained in Uganda released, but 'in bad shape' June 11, 2024

Uganda's big oil project

By AFP - Agence France Presse

Environmental activist detained in Uganda released, but 'in bad shape'

A Ugandan environmental activist opposed to a major oil project led by French giant TotalEnergies has been released after five days in detention, his employer said on Monday.

Stephen Kwikiriza was found on Sunday night dumped on a road in Kyenjojo, about five hours' drive west of the capital Kampala, said Samuel Okulony, director of the Environment Governance Institute.

The activist said he was beaten by army officers, Okulony said in a message to AFP, adding that he was being treated in a Kampala hospital.

"He is alive, he is now safe and is reconnecting with his family. His condition is not good after having suffered severe beatings, ill-treatment, and abuse all week."

A senior military officer confirmed Kwikiriza's detention on Monday.

“He was taken into custody for questioning about his illegal activities, including mobilizing fellow activists to oppose the pipeline,” the officer told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that he was released after questioning.

“I am not aware that he was beaten during interrogation, it is a matter that can be investigated and verified.”

Okulony praised the “international pressure” for Kwikiriza's release.

Global human rights groups raised concerns about Kwikiriza's fate after he disappeared on Tuesday.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) described it as a “particularly worrying escalation of repression”.

FIDH said that 11 environmental activists “were abducted, arbitrarily arrested, detained or subjected to different forms of harassment by the Ugandan authorities between May 27 and June 5, 2024”.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) also expressed concern about Kwikiriza's disappearance.

“The Ugandan government needs to end the persecution of opponents of oil development in the country, such as the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline Project,” said Myrto Tilianaki, senior environmental rights advocate at HRW, in a statement.

TotalEnergies signed an agreement with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in 2022 to develop oil fields in Uganda and ship the crude through a 1,445-kilometer (900-mile) pipeline to the Indian Ocean port of Tanga in Tanzania.

President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda with an iron fist since 1986, has regularly praised the oil project as an economic boon for the impoverished landlocked country.

The first oil is expected to flow in 2025, almost two decades after the reserves were discovered at Lake Albert in northwestern Uganda.

Environmental groups say the project is having dire consequences for local communities and the environment in an area of rich biodiversity, and have accused TotalEnergies of greenwashing.

TotalEnergies in Uganda said in a statement that it “does not tolerate threats, intimidation, harassment or violence against those who promote human rights peacefully and lawfully about our activities”.

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