Police at Kira Road have arrested nine individuals, including three females and six males, for allegedly staging an unlawful demonstration near the Lugogo Bypass in Nakawa Division.
The group, reportedly students of Kyambogo University, was protesting against KCB Bank’s alleged involvement in financing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project, which runs from Kikuube in western Uganda to Tanzania. The students cited environmental degradation and human rights violations as their primary concerns.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, the suspects are currently detained at Kira Road Police Station and will face prosecution. He emphasized that their gathering had not been cleared by the police, in violation of public order management regulations.
“The public is reminded to always seek clearance from the Inspector General of Police before organizing or participating in any demonstration,” Onyango said .
The arrests come amid growing activism against the controversial pipeline project, with environmentalists and rights groups accusing banks and investors of enabling displacement and ecological harm in the affected regions.
Authorities have not disclosed the exact charges the suspects are likely to face, but investigations are ongoing.
