Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has criticised the EU parliament after it called on his government to halt a strategic oil pipeline project with neighbouring Tanzania.
Two weeks ago EU lawmakers passed a resolution warning of human rights abuses and the social and environmental risk posed by the project.
“Some of these EU MPs are insufferable and so wrong that they think they know everything but should calm down,” Mr Museveni said at the annual Uganda International oil & gas summit on Tuesday.
He added: “This is the wrong battleground for them. I hope our partners join us firmly and advise them. For us, we’re moving forward with our programme.”
Mr Museveni has touted the oil pipeline project as one that would boost the country’s economic development.
Rights groups say some 100,000 people risk being displaced and have urged the contractors, France’s Total Energies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, to pause the $10bn (£8bn) project until they find an alternative route.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline project will stretch 1,443km (896 miles) from Lake Albert in western Uganda to the Tanzanian port of Tanga on the Indian Ocean.
Source: BBC
