On the 2nd of April 2025, the Nile Post reported that at least nine youth activists had been arrested by police in Kampala after storming Stanbic Bank's headquarters to protest the bank's funding of the controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. The protesters, affiliated with the Students against EACOP Uganda group, were taken into custody at the Kampala Central Police Station. The demonstration was part of a larger march involving over 50 activists. Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson stated that the activists were charged with Common Nuisance and shall be arraigned in court the next day. The protest followed an announcement by EACOP Ltd on March 27, confirming the completion of the first round of debt financing. The funding, secured from a consortium of five African and Middle Eastern banks, signals renewed investor confidence in the Uganda-Tanzania pipeline project despite longstanding opposition from environmentalists.

Stanbic Bank Uganda, along with its parent company Standard Bank of South Africa, is leading the group of African financial institutions backing the $5 billion (Shs18 trillion) project. Other banks include the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) and KCB Bank Uganda Ltd, a subsidiary of Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Group. In an April 2 petition addressed to Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Chief Executive Officer, Mumba Kalinfugwa, environmentalists condemned the bank’s involvement, highlighting that 43 banks and 29 insurers have already distanced themselves from the project due to environmental and human rights concerns

Activists argue that the EACOP project has led to the displacement of over 10,000 families and the arrest of more than 100 protesters. They also allege that activists face abductions and human rights violations. “At a time when the world is grappling with the escalating effects of climate change, financing a fossil fuel infrastructure project is not only irresponsible; it is an active assault on our planet and our people,” reads the petition.

Business and Human Rights Resource Centre invited Stanbic Bank, KCB Bank and African Export Import Bank to respond, Stanbic Bank, KCB Bank and African Export Import Bank did not respond