Health Equity and Policy Initiative - HEAPI

Health Equity and Policy Initiative - HEAPI Centre for Climate, Health, and Digital Defence

Rukungiri High Court UpdateToday, Counsel Peter Arinaitwe, HEAPI’s Head of Strategic Litigation, appeared before Her Lor...
28/04/2026

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 UpdateToday, Counsel Peter Arinaitwe, HEAPI’s Head of Strategic Litigation, appeared before Her Lor...
28/04/2026

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.

Today, lawyers for the Kapaapi community, Arinaitwe Peter and Mugume Hassan, appeared before the High Court at Hoima. Om...
17/04/2026

Today, lawyers for the Kapaapi community, Arinaitwe Peter and Mugume Hassan, appeared before the High Court at Hoima. Omara Fabian appeared for TotalEnergies.

The community seeks interim orders to stop any dealings with disputed land in Runga, Waaki, and the RAP 4 corridor land, stop any eviction of over 1,000 affected residents without a court order, bar the involvement of armed UPDF soldiers, preserve the status quo, and protect residents, witnesses, and community defenders from threats, violence, and re-eviction.

TotalEnergies denied involvement in the evictions and opposed the application.

The Kapaapi community sought to file a rejoinder and submissions by 21 April 2026. TotalEnergies sought to file by 27 April 2026.

Ruling: 4 May 2026.

Kapaapi communities in Hoima, Uganda have today April 13, 2026 filed a case against TotalEnergies E&P Uganda, RDC, Hoima...
13/04/2026

Kapaapi communities in Hoima, Uganda have today April 13, 2026 filed a case against TotalEnergies E&P Uganda, RDC, Hoima, and the Government of Uganda over violent forced evictions, sexual violence, and renewed threats of another mass eviction.

In Feb 2023, over 1,000 residents were violently evicted by armed UPDF soldiers — with no court order — in direct violation of a High Court Consent Order. Women were gang-raped. Pregnant women were beaten. Families were left homeless for nearly 2 years.

After resettlement was ordered in Oct 2025, armed soldiers returned in Jan 2026 to demolish homes AGAIN. In Feb 2026, communities received an explicit threat: leave or face the same violence.

Now 1,600 residents face a SECOND mass eviction.

The communities are urgently asking the Court to:

- Stop all evictions immediately
- Order full compensation & restitution
- Compel transparency on land acquisition
- Issue a permanent injunction

Yesterday, March 31, 2026, HEAPI’s Peter Arinaitwe, alongside the Legal Officer of the Ministry of Water, appeared befor...
31/03/2026

Yesterday, March 31, 2026, HEAPI’s Peter Arinaitwe, alongside the Legal Officer of the Ministry of Water, appeared before Retired Justice David Kutosi Wangutusi — the appointed mediator for the Rukungiri-Ruhinda wetland restoration cases — for the first preliminary meeting.

Key outcomes from the session:

✅ Both parties agreed the mediation process will span 40 days

✅ Each party will prepare and submit a brief report to the mediator outlining their account of events

✅ The mediator will then schedule field visits to Ruhinda to conduct on-site mediation sessions with the affected communities

The meeting was a great step forward in the pursuit of justice and restoration for the victims. We remain committed to this process and will keep you updated every step of the way.

A USD 45M GCF and UNDP climate project in Uganda was meant to protect wetlands and communities instead, in Ruhinda Sub-C...
26/03/2026

A USD 45M GCF and UNDP climate project in Uganda was meant to protect wetlands and communities instead, in Ruhinda Sub-County, Rukungiri District, families were displaced and crops destroyed. 8 villages and 200 people were affected in the land marking exercise.

Land that wasn’t even legally gazetted as wetland was marked off by government agents. Residents say no one consulted them before any of it happened. Little to no public record exists of how the funds were actually used.

Affected community members through HEAPI by way of letter raised these concerns but it was ignored causing the affected to seek redress in court.

Today, Peter Arinaitwe, HEAPI’s Head of Strategic Litigation, finally sat down with the Legal Officer from MOWE and the GCF Project Coordinator in Luzira; both parties agreed to appear before His Lordship Rtd Justice David Kutosi Wangutusi (the mutually agreed Mediator), next Tuesday to lay a roadmap for mediation as the 200 affected people wait for real answers.

Climate finance must protect the vulnerable, not uproot them. Accountability isn’t optional.

Hoima’s violent evictions shattered homes, livelihoods, education, and dignity, leaving Kapaapi families in prolonged di...
24/03/2026

Hoima’s violent evictions shattered homes, livelihoods, education, and dignity, leaving Kapaapi families in prolonged displacement, trauma, and despair.

The February 2023 evictions in Hoima forced families out of their homes and left many people suffering. We call for just...
24/03/2026

The February 2023 evictions in Hoima forced families out of their homes and left many people suffering. We call for justice, protection for affected communities, and urgent action to restore their dignity and livelihoods.

“They came at night. No warning. No court order. Just boots and fire.”Sometime in February 2023, many families in Kapaap...
23/03/2026

“They came at night. No warning. No court order. Just boots and fire.”

Sometime in February 2023, many families in Kapaapi, Hoima, mostly comprising cultivators and pastoralists were violently evicted at night by police, unscrupulous individuals, private security guards, and section of UPDF soldiers.

🌾⚖️ HEAPI amplifying community voices!

Responding to a distress call, our Strategic Litigation and Advocacy Director, Peter Arinaitwe engaged affected members ...
20/03/2026

Responding to a distress call, our Strategic Litigation and Advocacy Director, Peter Arinaitwe engaged affected members of the Paten Clan in Pakwach over concerns linked to the Wadelai Irrigation Scheme Project.

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