Four arrested as youths march to parliament over Uganda’s oil resources

August 10, 2026-Four youths from activist group Rooted in Resistance have been arrested after police intercepted a group that was marching towards Parliament to deliver a petition on Uganda’s oil resources.
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed that the four are being held at Central Police Station in Kampala.
The youths were stopped by parliamentary police as they attempted to reach Parliament with a petition calling for changes in the way Uganda’s oil wealth is managed.
According to the activists, the petition proposes a new economic model focused on economic freedom and ensuring that proceeds from the country’s oil resources benefit Ugandans more broadly.
Rooted in Resistance said the march was intended to be peaceful and non-violent. The group also reported that hundreds of its supporters were intercepted during the demonstration.
The arrests come as Uganda approaches the expected start of commercial oil production.
Construction of the 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has reached 91 per cent completion, according to government updates, with first oil expected before the end of 2026.
The activist group has previously been linked to Students Against EACOP Uganda and has participated in demonstrations and petition campaigns over the country’s oil developments.
Several activists associated with the campaign have been arrested in previous years during protests against EACOP and related projects. Some have faced charges including common nuisance and unlawful assembly.
However, police have not yet disclosed the specific charges against the four youths arrested during Monday’s march.
Their identities have also not been released.
The arrests have brought renewed attention to the debate over Uganda’s oil sector, particularly questions surrounding how the country’s expected oil revenues should be managed and who should ultimately benefit from them.