Grapevine

Drama as breastfeeding mothers, youth protest against EACOP in Hoima

Drama ensued when hundreds of project affected persons (PAPs) gathered in Hoima City on Monday protesting against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project saying it risks causing “severe wide range impacts.”

Over 150 petitioners, among them breastfeeding mothers, youth and elderly persons from oil rich Hoima, Buliisa and Kikube districts first converged at the government aided Kitara Secondary School, over 1km from central Hoima City as they plotted protesting to the regional EACOP offices.

However, the peaceful PAPs were surrounded by heavily armed police and UPDF soldiers who foiled the protest. Similar protests had been staged in Kampala, leading to arrests of several demonstrators on Monday.

Hoima Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Badru Mugabi said security stormed Kitara SS after getting intelligence-led information that there were people planning to demonstrate against EACOP and TotalEnergies.

“Remember that you were here in April [2024] and I had a discussion with you, where you handed a petition to me to take to the chief judge,” the RCC said.