By Our Reporter
Bibanja holders and land owners in Buvuma district will be bagging millions as compensation from government after presidential directive.
In a letter inked last year in April, HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directed the Finance Minister Hon Matia Kasaija to compensate all the land owners and bibanja holders affected by the palm oil project.
In his letter, Museveni directed Minister Kasaija to ascertain the amount outstanding to the landowners and bibanja holders and have it paid with in 3yrs.
“As you are aware, oil palm growing has not only impacted on the communities through enhancing household incomes but has also created employment for the locals, contributed to import substitution, earned foreign exchange for the country and greatly contributed to GDP. It is therefore, important for the country to continue supporting oil palm growing and expand the project to other neighboring districts,” Museveni wrote to Kasaija.
The above letter came after the landowners and bibanja holders threatened to repossess their land and destroy the oil palm trees which would disrupt the project.
“To avoid disruptions in the project. Your Ministry should also plan to compensate for land already identified in the different districts for oil palm growing. The plan can be implemented over a period of like three years since funds may not be readily available given the other pending priorities of government. Funds should also be availed to the Ministry for fertilizers.”
Commercial oil palm growing in Uganda started in Kalangala in 2006. Harvesting started in 2010 with crude palm oil shipped to Jinja where Bidco owns a refinery that makes cooking oil and soap among other products.
Oil palm trees reach maturity at four years and are harvested every 10 days for 25 years after which farmers will have to replant. This gives farmers a sustainable monthly income for years.
Oil palm is the world’s most versatile vegetable oil which is used to make soap, cooking oil, medicines, cosmetics, and ingredients used in the automotive industry among others.
