Coming up for ruling: on 7th October 2021.

Application filed: on 25th June 2020.

Article:  39 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

Rule: 84 of the East African Court of Justice Rules of Procedure, 2019.

Subject matter: Restrain orders against Uganda from proceeding with geological activities at Kibiro hot springs and eviction of indigenous population.

Applicants sought for interim orders restraining the Respondent government from;

  1. Proceeding with and/or conducting geological activities including surveying mining and/or exploration at the Kibiro hot springs, village and ancient salt manufacturing works- including geothermal energy and natural resources; and
  2. Evicting the people of Kibiro and the Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara from their ancestral lands until the hearing and determination of this Application.

In the alternative but without any prejudice to the above, the same interim orders be issued pending the hearing of Reference No. 16 of 2020 Adam Kyomuhendo & Another vs The Attorney General of the Republic of Uganda.

In Reference No.16 of 2020 the Applicants allege that, proposal and preliminary actions by the government of the Republic of Uganda to establish a geothermal electricity project at Kibiro hot springs, village and site of its ancient salt manufacturing works located in Kigorobya sub-county, Hoima District, Republic of Uganda without prior and adequate consultation of the Banyakibiro indigenous people or the Kingdom and people of Bunyoro-Kitara will have a permanent and deleterious effect if the project materializes on the culture as well as the human rights of the indigenous population, ecosystem, scenic beauty, religious integrity, sacredness and inviolability of the Kibiro hot springs and ancient salt manufacturing village, in ways that monetary compensation cannot adequately compensate.

This is a document produced by the Registry to assist in understanding forthcoming matters before the Court. It does not bind the Court. For authoritative Decisions, Judgments and general information about the Court please visit https://www.eacj.org

Contact: Registrar, East African Court of Justice, P.O. Box 1096 Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 27 2506093 Fax: +255 27 27 2509493 Email: eacj@eachq.org