The East African Court of Justice threw out an appeal from environmental groups trying to stop the crude oil pipeline project over climate and human rights concerns. Judges said the case missed the 60-day filing deadline under regional laws and backed the earlier dismissal from 2023. Four organizations from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania wanted construction halted in protected zones and compensation for displaced communities.
The court reversed one part, though, saying nobody gets to collect legal costs from the other side because the case served public interest. Groups called the whole thing a letdown, arguing judges ignored when affected people actually learned about secret agreements that were signed years before going public. Over 100,000 people lost land for the pipeline route. One farmer from Uganda said he turned down $2 million for his mango trees and called it a depressing outcome.
Activist leaders said regional courts abandoned 331 million East Africans to corporate greed. They plan to keep fighting through other channels after talking with displaced communities about next moves.
The court reversed one part, though, saying nobody gets to collect legal costs from the other side because the case served public interest. Groups called the whole thing a letdown, arguing judges ignored when affected people actually learned about secret agreements that were signed years before going public. Over 100,000 people lost land for the pipeline route. One farmer from Uganda said he turned down $2 million for his mango trees and called it a depressing outcome.
Activist leaders said regional courts abandoned 331 million East Africans to corporate greed. They plan to keep fighting through other channels after talking with displaced communities about next moves.
