Four young climate activists identified as Brian, Ibrahim, Calvin and Hamim have been remanded to Luzira Maximum Prison until March 25th after their case at Buganda Road Court was delayed.
The hearing, initially set for 9:00 AM was pushed to 4:30 PM, only to be postponed due to the absence of the state attorney.
These four were arrested on charges of “common nuisance,” these university students part of the XR Justice Movement Uganda were demanding an end to EACOP while the government continues to support the project.
What should have been a swift hearing turned into a day-long wait that ended in disappointment for the activists and their supporters.
The delay in justice reflects a growing pattern, youths speaking up against environmental destruction are being silenced while the EACOP project continues.
The XR Justice Movement Uganda, a coalition of young climate advocates from various universities has been at the forefront of climate action using civil disobedience as a strategy to demand sustainable policies.
Their activism has focused on stopping the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a controversial project that threatens both communities and ecosystems in Uganda and Tanzania.
The four climate defenders were reportedly arrested during a peaceful protest calling for an end to government subsidies for fossil fuels.
These subsidies, activists argue enable corporations to continue harming the environment while the poorest communities suffer the consequences of climate change.
The government however, classified their demonstration as “common nuisance,” leading to their imprisonment.
Critics have called out the Ugandan government for its hypocrisy. While peaceful climate activists are thrown into maximum security prison, multinational oil corporations continue their operations enjoying generous tax breaks and government backing.
With their next hearing set for March 25th, the activists remain behind bars, a stark reminder of how environmental justice is increasingly being criminalized.
Their supporters continue to demand their immediate release, urging the government to focus on ending fossil fuel subsidies instead of punishing those who advocate for a clean and safe Uganda.
