At least nine students were arrested by Ugandan police on April 2nd, 2025, after participating in a protest at the headquarters of Stanbic Bank in Kampala. The protest, organized by the Students Against EACOP Uganda group, called on the bank to withdraw its support for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project.

The students were attempting to deliver a petition outlining concerns about the environmental and human rights impacts of the project, including forced displacement and inadequate compensation for affected communities. Police detained the activists as they marched to the bank’s offices.

The arrests have sparked reactions from various groups, with calls for the students’ release and further discussions on the project’s impacts. The detained students are being held at Kampala Central Police Station.

More updates to follow.