MWE Correspondent
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) has dismissed an appeal aimed at halting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), ruling that the petition was filed after the legally prescribed time limit had expired.
The decision upholds a prior judgment by the court’s First Instance Division, which had struck out an earlier challenge to the $4 billion infrastructure project.
EACOP, a 1,443-kilometre pipeline, is designed to transport crude oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert region to the Port of Tanga in Tanzania. It is among the largest private-led oil and gas infrastructure projects in Africa, expected to boost regional energy exports while drawing both significant investment and public scrutiny.
The latest appeal, filed by four civil society organisations from Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, sought to overturn the previous dismissal, citing alleged violations of governance, environmental protection, and human rights obligations under the East African Community Treaty. However, the EACJ, in a ruling delivered on November 26, 2025, determined that the appeal was indeed submitted out of the allowed time frame and therefore could not proceed.
The ruling was issued by a five-judge bench led by Court President Justice Nestor Kayobara, sitting with Justices Anita Mugeni, Kathurima M’Inoti, Cheborion Barishaki, and Omari Makungu. The court ordered that each party bear its own legal costs.
The appeal had been directed against the Attorneys General of Tanzania and Uganda, as well as the Secretary General of the East African Community, challenging the signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) and Host Government Agreements (HGA) underpinning the pipeline project.
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Petitioners had argued that the agreements were inconsistent with principles of transparency, environmental stewardship, and community rights.
Supporters of the project argue that EACOP will serve as a major driver for regional economic growth, facilitating energy exports and providing employment opportunities along the corridor. They also highlight that the pipeline has undergone extensive environmental and social impact assessments to comply with international standards.
The dismissal of the appeal marks a key legal milestone for the project, allowing construction and development activities to continue without further legal interruption from this particular challenge. Nonetheless, EACOP remains a focal point for debates around large-scale infrastructure, energy development, and environmental safeguards in East Africa, reflecting the ongoing tensions between economic ambitions and social responsibility.
Observers say that while the court’s decision clears a procedural hurdle, public interest and advocacy groups are likely to continue monitoring the project closely, particularly regarding its impact on local communities and natural ecosystems along the pipeline’s route.
The ruling underscores the critical role of the East African Court of Justice in interpreting regional agreements and balancing state-led development projects with obligations to environmental protection and human rights.
