The East African Crude Oil Pipeline under construction in Uganda. EACOP Ltd

Four Ugandan farmers have launched a suit in the U.K. High Court against a controversial oil pipeline being built in East Africa. The suit is a last-ditch effort to halt the project before it goes online in October.

When completed, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, or EACOP, will ship crude oil 900 miles from the Great Lakes region in Uganda to the Tanzanian coast. Campaigners say the project, spearheaded by French oil giant TotalEnergies, threatens to contaminate vital freshwater and harm wildlife.

The pipeline route crosses some 230 rivers and, together with its feeder pipelines, cuts through 44 protected areas, Y ale Environment 360 recently reported .…