Health Equity and Policy Initiative - HEAPI

Hoima High Court Update #

Today, our teams appeared in court for the hearing of the temporary injunction application concerning the Kapaapi community. While oral arguments were deferred, Court set timelines for community representatives, TotalEnergies, and Government of Uganda to file the necessary responses and submissions.

The ruling on the temporary injunction application has been scheduled for June 2026.

We remain committed to standing with the Kapaapi community against threats of re-eviction and in pursuit of accountability for past human rights abuses arising from the construction of oil infrastructure in the region.

Today, 4 May 2026, Advocate Hassan Mugume and Peter Arinaitwe, our Head of Strategic Litigation, together with Doreen Namara of Liberty Pro Bono Initiative (LPI), appeared before the High Court in Hoima on behalf of the Kapaapi community.

The legal team was ready to receive the ruling in the residents’ application for an interim order against TotalEnergies E&P Uganda, the Government of Uganda, and the RDC Hoima, and to proceed with the hearing of the application for a temporary injunction.

The legal team was ready to receive the ruling on the residents’ application for an interim order against TotalEnergies E&P Uganda, the Government of Uganda, and the RDC Hoima, and to proceed with the hearing of the application for a temporary injunction.

Unfortunately, while the team was on its way to court, they received communication that the Deputy Registrar was indisposed.

Both matters were therefore adjourned to 8 May 2026.

We remain committed to standing with the Kapaapi community in their pursuit of justice, protection, and accountability.

Rukungiri High Court Update

Today, Counsel Peter Arinaitwe, HEAPI’s Head of Strategic Litigation, appeared before Her Lordship Susan Kanyange and updated Court on the progress of mediation in the Ruhinda wetland restoration cases.

The cases arise from concerns raised by communities in Ruhinda Sub-County, Rukungiri District, following a land marking exercise under a climate finance supported wetland restoration project. Community members from 8 villages, affecting about 200 people, say the exercise led to displacement, destruction of crops, lack of consultation, and the marking of land they say was not legally gazetted as wetland.

After the concerns remained unresolved, the affected communities sought redress before the High Court.

Parties presented to Court the preliminary mediation minutes from the first meeting before Retired Justice David Kutosi Wangutusi, the mutually agreed mediator. The matters wwre adjourned to 1 July 2026 to allow the parties to continue and conclude the mediation process.

For the affected communities, the process remains about answers, restoration, and accountability.

Climate finance must protect people and livelihoods.

Rukungiri High Court Update

Today, Counsel Peter Arinaitwe, HEAPI’s Head of Strategic Litigation, appeared before Her Lordship Susan Kanyange and updated Court on the progress of mediation in the Ruhinda wetland restoration cases.

The cases arise from concerns raised by communities in Ruhinda Sub-County, Rukungiri District, following a land marking exercise under a climate finance supported wetland restoration project. Community members from 8 villages, affecting about 200 people, say the exercise led to displacement, destruction of crops, lack of consultation, and the marking of land they say was not legally gazetted as wetland.

After the concerns remained unresolved, the affected communities sought redress before the High Court.

Partiws presented to Court the preliminary mediation minutes from the first meeting before Retired Justice David Kutosi Wangutusi, the mutually agreed mediator. The matters were adjourned to 1 July 2026 to allow the parties to continue and conclude the mediation process.

For the affected communities, the process remains about answers, restoration, and accountability.

Climate finance must protect people and livelihoods.

https://heapi.org/2026/04/18/kapaapi-community-takes-totalenergies-to-court-over-land-evictions/