By Nasser Kayanja

KAMPALA — Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has charged and remanded 10 anti-EACOP activists accused of causing a nuisance on a public road during a protest in Kampala.

The activists were arrested on Monday, August 31, 2026, while marching to Parliament to deliver a petition calling for changes to Uganda’s oil policies and investment priorities.

The group denied the charge when it was read to them before court.

According to the charge sheet, the accused, together with others still at large, on August 31 at about 9am at King George Way in Kampala Central Division, allegedly dressed in orange T-shirts bearing the words “Rooted in Resistance” and carried placards with messages calling for the government to prioritise other sectors of the economy.

Prosecutors allege that the activists placed themselves on the public road in a manner that caused danger or inconvenience to traffic.

The accused were subsequently remanded until September 18, when court is expected to consider their bail applications and take further steps in the case.

Petition Parliament

In their latest petition, the activists called on Parliament to review Uganda’s petroleum policies and investment priorities.

They urged lawmakers to consider redirecting public resources towards sectors they argue can generate sustainable and broadly shared wealth.

The activists have been critical of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project and have repeatedly called for greater government investment in alternative sectors of the economy.

The case comes amid continued debate over Uganda’s oil development plans, with supporters of the petroleum projects maintaining that the sector will generate revenue, jobs and economic opportunities, while environmental and human rights campaigners have raised concerns about its social and environmental impact.