By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Kampala, Uganda – Police in Kampala have arrested three Ugandan students from various universities and a Belgian national who staged a protest at the Chinese Embassy in Kampala earlier today.
The demonstrators were voicing their opposition to the planned construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline.
According to eyewitnesses, the protesters marched to the embassy, carrying placards and banners, before being intercepted by police.
The authorities arrested four individuals, including the Belgian national, for allegedly violating public order and engaging in an unauthorized assembly.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline project has been a contentious issue, with environmental and human rights groups raising concerns about its potential impact on local communities and ecosystems.
The project aims to transport crude oil from Uganda to the Tanzanian coast for export.
The protesters were delivering a petition to the Chinese Ambassador, asking him to urge his government to prevent the state-owned China National Offshore Oil Company from funding the project due to environmental concerns that could damage biodiversity.
The petition, addressed to the Chinese Ambassador, expressed concerns about the potential environmental impact of the pipeline project, particularly on biodiversity.
The project, funded in part by the China National Offshore Oil Company, has been met with resistance from environmental and human rights groups.
The arrested individuals are currently being held at an undisclosed police station, pending further investigation and possible charges.
The police have yet to comment on the arrests, but sources indicate that the individuals may face charges related to public order and unlawful assembly.
The protest and subsequent arrests highlight the growing tensions surrounding the pipeline project, with some Ugandans and international organizations expressing concerns about its environmental and social implications.
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