Where is Stephen Kwikiriza? Abduction of Environmental Defender Highlights Urgent Need for International Intervention

The situation surrounding the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project in Uganda is rapidly deteriorating, and the recent abduction of Stephen Kwikiriza, an observer working with the Environmental Governance Institute (EGI), serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers faced by environmental and human rights defenders in the region.

On June 4, 2024, Stephen was abducted in Kampala by plain-clothed officers from the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF). His whereabouts and condition remain unknown despite efforts by a legal team to locate him in various military and police detention centres.

This alarming incident comes on the heels of another concerning development, where seven Ugandans were arrested on May 27, 2024, for attempting to deliver a petition outlining the adverse effects of the oil project, including land loss, environmental degradation, and violations of human and community rights.

The Kingfisher project, associated with EACOP and developed by the Chinese company China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) and majority-owned by TotalEnergies, has been mired in controversy due to its potential environmental and social impacts. Despite these concerns, the Ugandan government appears to be doubling down on its harsh protection of the project, cracking down on dissent and stifling the voices of those seeking to safeguard their rights and the environment.

The abduction of Stephen Kwikiriza and the arrests of the seven petitioners are not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader pattern of intimidation and suppression of environmental and human rights defenders in the region. This escalating situation demands immediate and decisive action from the international community.

We call upon international human rights organizations and individuals worldwide to step in and pressure the Ugandan government to release Stephen Kwikiriza and ensure the protection of all environmental and human rights defenders in the country.

Pursuing economic development should never come at the expense of fundamental human rights and environmental safeguards. It is time for the international community to take a stand and send a clear message that such flagrant violations of human rights and environmental protections will not be tolerated.

Click here to access the press release.