Ugandan Communities Affected by Tilenga and EACOP Oil Projects File Fresh Lawsuit Against Total for Human Rights Abuses

Twenty-six residents of Uganda impacted by Total's Tilenga and EACOP oil projects have filed a fresh case against the company in France. Human rights defender Maxwell Atuhura and five French and Ugandan civil society organizations (CSOs) have joined the communities as plaintiffs, seeking damages for human rights abuses committed due to these projects. 

The lawsuit alleges that Total is culpable for human rights crimes committed against the affected individuals in Uganda over the past six years. The plaintiffs argue that Total failed to adequately prepare for and respond to potential threats, assess the potential for severe harm, not respond when warned of the risks, and did not take corrective action after human rights abuses had already been committed. Total's vigilance plans for 2018-2023 do not include any actions addressing population displacements, restricted livelihood access, or threats to human rights defenders.

Various parties, including civil society, MEPs, and UN Special Rapporteurs, have recorded and protested the scope of abuses linked with the Tilenga and EACOP initiatives. The lawsuit alleges several violations, including denying land use rights, food shortages, and taking farmlands in some villages. The plaintiffs express dissatisfaction at having to reside within a few meters of the EACOP and demand justice for the wrongs committed by Total. The "duty of vigilance" statute places the weight of proof on the communities, making their fight against Total similar to that of David against Goliath. The plaintiffs argue that Total's mega-oil project has done the opposite of what it claims, endangering the lives of tens of thousands of people in a country where protest is stifled or even persecuted. Click here to read the full press release.