East African Court of Justice Reserves Judgment on Objection to Jurisdiction in EACOP Case

Republic of Uganda, Republic of Tanzania, and East African Community Secretary General Challenge Jurisdiction of EACJ Over Environmental and Social Justice Concerns in EACOP Construction Case

The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) reserved its judgment after hearing arguments on the objection to the court's jurisdiction filed by the Republic of Uganda, the Republic of Tanzania, and the Secretary General of the East African Community. The case challenges the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which the applicants argue raises concerns about environmental, social justice, and climate justice.

The preliminary objection filed by the respondents sought to dismiss the case before the main hearing, claiming that the court did not have the power to entertain the case, the court did not have jurisdiction to entertain human rights violations, and the submission by the applicants was defective. The applicants, on the other hand, argued that the objections raised by the respondents were issues of fact that the court should not consider at the preliminary stage.

The ruling on the preliminary objection will be handed down when the court sits again in June or August 2023. The applicants hope that the EACJ will expeditiously hear the main case and dispense justice to the communities affected by the project. Read the full press statement here.