Connect with us

MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

Industrial plantations: stop endangering local farmers, Indigenous knowledge, and food system models – land-grab victims

Published

on

By Witness Radio Team.

Emotions, tears, and testimonies exposing the dark side of industrial agriculture rocked activities to mark the International Day of Struggle against industrial plantations 2024 celebrations in Uganda.

The day, celebrated in Uganda for the first time, began with a live radio talk show on Witness Radio, broadcast in the local dialect. Leaders of communities affected by industrial plantations in Uganda, under their umbrella organization—the Informal Alliance for Communities Affected by Irresponsible Land-Based Investments—shared harrowing accounts of forced evictions, lack of compensation, and broken promises by industrial plantation investors, all of which have escalated poverty and worsened the hunger crisis.

The Ugandan Alliance united with global informal alliances to collectively resist the rapid expansion of industrial plantations. Together, they resist increasing irresponsible land-based investments, threatening local communities’ human rights and destroying the environment. The day is commemorated every September 21st of the year.

Ugandan smallholder farmers are hugely under attack as their lands are being grabbed for large-scale industrial plantations despite being among the world’s largest food producers.

The 2021 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), titled “Which farms feed the world and has farmland become more concentrated?”, revealed that small-scale farmers produce up to 70%- 80% of the world’s food and contribute nearly a third of the global food supply.

During the one-hour radio program, the Alliance leaders representing Kiryandongo communities revealed that investors illegally evicted them to make way for coffee, maize, soya, and sugar cane plantations; Kalangala communities are victims of palm oil plantations; and Mubende communities are victims of carbon offset tree plantations, among other communities. They revealed that their communities were dumped in abject poverty while the industrial plantations made huge profits after forceful evictions.

“Millions of Ugandans have been brutally evicted for profit. They have not been compensated or resettled, and what is replacing their lands are plantations that serve no purpose to the common person since most the crops in the plantations serve an international market.” Akiteng Stella, the Informal Alliance Chairperson, was evicted from her land in Kiryandongo to make way for sugarcane plantations.

Akiteng added that people who once grew their food crops on fertile lands have been reduced to paupers in their own countries, as they no longer have land to farm.

“Ideally, there are many challenges facing these communities, and now their only means of survival is working on the investors’ plantations. So, you wonder how a former landlord earning millions of Uganda shillings each season from their land can be reduced to a casual laborer to earn a monthly salary of nearly 200,000/: Uganda shillings? Is that true development or simply profiting off our land and workforce?”

Currently, big corporations are promoting large-scale industrial agriculture, backed by significant funding from entities like the World Bank, claiming it’s the way to go for food security and climate protection.

While doing so, they have received criticism that their businesses are doing the opposite. Recently, African faith leaders, alongside hundreds of civil society and farmer groups, revealed that industrialized plantations had done more harm than good, increasing poverty, exacerbating food insecurity, eroding local seed varieties, and degrading the environment across Africa. The faith leaders said that the promoted initiatives have increased dependence on expensive farm inputs, eroded local seed varieties, degraded soil fertility, and weakened farmers’ resilience to climate shocks like drought.

However, the expansion of industrial plantations serves only the interests of investors and governments, as many of these ventures are backed by influential government figures. For example, the so-called development that the New Forests Company claimed to have brought to the community in Mubende District can only be applauded by those who choose to disregard the realities on the ground.

Being evicted from fertile lands without compensation and abandoned in the wilderness feels incomprehensible to someone accustomed to actively farming their land and relying on agriculture for daily survival. According to its Senior Corporate Social Responsibility Programme Manager, Mr. Alex Kyabawampi, the company fully compensated the affected residents.

However, the leaders of the affected residents questioned what the company called compensation. Saying that even those who were allegedly compensated received land that was practically worthless, hilly and rocky terrain that yielded nothing, and to make matters worse, the residents were reportedly instructed to use the same land to plant more trees for the company.

“People are starving day and night. They resettled to a terrible place, and nothing could grow on it. Moreover, the land allocation was not done fairly—you find older adults being given land on top of a hill. How are they expected to reach it? People should come to the ground to witness our suffering,” Julius Ndagize revealed angrily during the radio program, adding that people are dying helplessly with nowhere to bury their dead, children are becoming malnourished, and families are being torn apart.

In the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Uganda ranked 95th out of 125 countries with a score of 25.2, highlighting the severity of the problem. Alliance leaders argue that this is the result of industrial farms. “Take, for instance, Kiryandongo, where over 35,000 people were illegally evicted to make way for industrial plantations. They could have contributed to food production if these individuals had been meaningfully engaged and empowered on their land,” Beryaija Benon, chairman of the Kiryandongo affected communities, wondered.

According to the World Bank’s compensation and resettlement guidelines, a person evicted from their land is entitled to a range of measures comprising compensation, income restoration support, transfer assistance, income restoration, and relocation support, which are due to affected people, depending on the nature of their losses, to restore their economic and social base.

Not only are people suffering, but the environment is also being harmed. For instance, Julius Ndagize, the leader of communities affected by New Forest Company evictions in Mubende, explained how the replacement of Indigenous trees with eucalyptus and pines has destroyed the environment. The loss of natural trees, critical for rainfall, has extended the dry season, delaying farming seasons and worsening food shortages.

“When these companies arrive, they destroy the environment. They cut down our indigenous trees, which contribute to rainfall formation, and replace them with trees that don’t support it. In Mubende, by July, we should be planting maize, Irish potatoes, and other crops, but nowadays, we can go as late as September without rain. In Kalangala, they planted palm oil trees near Lake Victoria, and these trees are sprayed with chemicals, including fertilizers. When it rains, runoff from the plantations flows into the lake, causing severe consequences for the lake and the people who depend on it,” said Julius.

Despite the hardships, the Informal Alliance continues to fight for the rights of affected communities. Their movement spans Uganda, mobilizing, sensitizing, and equipping communities with the knowledge to resist industrial plantation land grabs.

“We are reaching every corner of Uganda to mobilize and sensitize communities, broadening the fight against these land grabs. You have heard the stories of people suffering, and many more continue to face the same fate as a result of their expansion. We are urging communities to resist these land grabs,” revealed Nakato Priscilla, the Alliance’s vice chairperson.

She added, “As an alliance, they regularly hold meetings to evaluate their progress, educate people about their land rights, and assist in following up on cases, such as arrests by the police and in courts of law, to ensure that the law addresses the issues raised.”

Further, the Alliance emphasized that their movement is not against development or investors but insists that land acquisitions follow proper procedures. “We want investors to seek consent from communities, pay fairly for the land they take, and offer meaningful resettlement,” said Benon Beryaija, a member of the Alliance.

The Alliance urges the Ugandan government to compensate affected communities and that future investors use unoccupied land to avoid further displacements.

 

Continue Reading

MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

Know Your Land rights and environmental protection laws: a case of a refreshed radio program transferring legal knowledge to local and indigenous communities to protect their land and the environment at Witness Radio.

Published

on

By Witness Radio team.

Introducing a vital radio program that urgently addresses the crucial role of the media in the face of climate change. Titled “Stamping the Law on Rights and Environment Protection,” this program is now part of the most engaging program line-up on Witness Radio, ready to make a difference.

The research–based program, which will be presented in a talk show format, focuses on a single case as they occur in communities. It will host legal experts and scholars to offer legal advice and counseling, and guide communities on steps to take to push back on land and environmental injustices they are facing.

By breaking down complex environmental and land legal frameworks into discussions and practical examples, “Stamping the Law on Land Rights and Environment Protection” empowers communities to understand their rights, demand accountability, and engage constructively with duty bearers. It’s not just a radio program—it’s a platform for justice, empowerment, and sustainable coexistence between people and the environment, inspiring change.

This radio program will feature voices from different local and indigenous communities, not to spice up the program, but to share their ordeals, including how they settled on the land, and how they have sought redress. Community stories are at the heart of our program.

The radio team envisions using the radio airwaves to simplify access to legal information, educate the masses on land and environmental laws, and empower local communities to use the legal information to demand justice from courts and quash judicial institutions. The radio program applies to all local and indigenous communities in Africa to stay awake in the current wave of land-based investments targeting communities’ land and end the degradation of the environment, and to prevent future land forced evictions and maintain peaceful coexistence in both local and indigenous communities.

Witness Radio’s program “Stamping the Law on Environment Protection” is a powerful platform dedicated to educating and empowering Ugandans about the laws governing land management and environmental protection. Through this program, legal and academic experts shall sensitize listeners to key legal frameworks, their constitutional rights, and the proper procedures for acquiring, using, and protecting land and the environment.

In recent years, especially between 1990 and 2023, Uganda has experienced prevalent forced land eviction due to different types of investments, and faced severe effects of climate change, leaving thousands of communities landless, food insecure, and malnourished.

Our first broadcast this Tuesday focuses on a review of the Kawaala zone II case, one of the most significant land eviction cases in recent years. In this case, eviction affected urban poor communities in the name of an infrastructural project, and the project implementer never wanted to compensate or resettle communities whose land was to host the project. We will delve into the details of this case and discuss the implications for similar communities.

Mark your calendars! “Stamping the Law on Environment Protection,” a program will be broadcasting every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10 am to 11 am East African Standard Time (EAT).

Join us on this insightful journey. Download the Witness Radio app from the Google Play Store or tune in live on our website at www.witnessradio.org. Your thoughts and experiences related to land and environmental issues are invaluable. Let’s engage in meaningful discussions and enjoy more informative content together, because your voice matters.

Continue Reading

MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

Gov’t Seeks Land to Establish Palm Oil Mill and Nursery in Busoga

Published

on

Mayuge — The Government of Uganda is seeking land in Mayuge District to establish a palm oil processing mill and a nursery, as part of its plan to expand the National Oil Palm Project (NOPP) to the Busoga sub-region.

The call was made by the State Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, during the official launch of the oil palm planting exercise in Mayuge District this month. The Mayuge hub — which also covers Bugiri and Namayingo districts — marks the first phase of oil palm cultivation in Busoga, following years of preparation and feasibility studies.

 

Hon. Kyakulaga revealed that the government requires about 500 hectares of land to construct the mill and nursery, which will serve farmers across the hub.

NARO’s oil palm nursery in Mayuge

“Government currently does not own land in this area, so we are calling upon willing landowners to sell land for this purpose,” the Minister said. “The mill will allow farmers to process their harvest locally, creating jobs and ensuring long-term income for households.”

The Minister emphasised that Busoga’s proximity to Jinja offers a logistical advantage, as crude oil extracted from the mill can easily be transported to Jinja for refining.

The Mayuge oil palm initiative is part of a broader strategy to increase domestic vegetable oil production, reduce poverty, and improve household incomes through commercial agriculture. Uganda currently spends over USD 300 million annually on imported palm oil, a cost the government aims to cut significantly once local production scales up.

Oil palm seedlings

Low-Interest Financing

Equity Bank Uganda, which serves as the fund manager for the National Oil Palm Project, is partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture to manage and disburse funds to participating farmers.

Ms Catherine Psomgen, Director for Public Sector and Social Investments at Equity Bank Uganda, said the bank has already supported 896 farmers in Mayuge, Bugiri, and Namayingo with over UGX 1.2 billion in financing.

“We provide financial literacy training, agribusiness support, and ensure that funds are used transparently and efficiently. Through our Africa Resilience and Recovery Plan, we’ve dedicated 30% of our loan portfolio to agriculture.”

Ms Catherine Psomgen, Director for Public Sector and Social Investments at Equity Bank Uganda

Under the scheme, smallholder farmers with 2.5 to 5 acres of land can access up to UGX 25 million at a 10% interest rate — significantly lower than market rates — with a four-year grace period and six years for repayment. The funds are released directly to suppliers for land preparation, seedlings, fertilisers, and maintenance, ensuring accountability.

Local Production and Expansion Plans

A nursery with 50,000 seedlings has already been established in Mayuge and is ready for distribution to farmers. The seedlings, previously imported from Indonesia and Malaysia, are now being produced locally through the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) to reduce costs and delays.

The government is also preparing Phase Two of the project, which will expand into Bugweri, Iganga, Luuka, and Jinja districts in the next financial year.

Hon. Kyakulaga reiterated that sugarcane farming will not be replaced but complemented by oil palm, given that only 10% of Busoga’s land area is needed to meet Uganda’s annual demand for refined palm oil.

While enthusiasm for the project is high, land acquisition remains a major challenge. The Mayuge District Oil Palm Growers Cooperative Society reported that over 54,000 planting holes have already been dug, yet many farmers are still awaiting seedlings.

“We have the farmers, we have the funding, and we have the will,” Hon. Kyakulaga said. “What we now need is land for the mill and nursery so that Busoga’s oil palm dream becomes a full reality.”

The National Oil Palm Project is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) with USD 76 million, complemented by private sector investment to a total of USD 210 million (UGX 300 billion). The program aims to empower smallholder farmers, create rural jobs, and strengthen Uganda’s agro-industrial base under the government’s Agro-Industrialisation Agenda.

Source: softpower.ug/

 

 

Continue Reading

MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

New! The Eyes on a Just Energy Transition in Africa Program is now live on Witness Radio.

Published

on

By Witness Radio team

Introducing a unique radio program that delves into the urgent and crucial role of the media in the face of climate change. Titled ‘Eyes on a Just Energy Transition’, this program is now part of the engaging lineup on Witness Radio.

This investigative radio broadcast is not just about informing, but also about empowering. It aims to foster public dialogues that shape perceptions and influence policy and collective action on climate change. It particularly focuses on the rights and freedoms of marginalized and poor communities, highlighting their crucial role in Africa’s just energy transition.

Mark your calendars! The ‘Eyes on a Just Energy Transition’ program will be broadcasting every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am to 11 am East African Standard Time (EAT).

Our first broadcast this Friday focuses on Uganda’s journey in the renewable energy transition plan, exploring the Legal, political, institutional, and regulatory frameworks that underpin the country’s renewable energy struggles.

Uganda lost nearly half of its forest cover in the recent past, especially between 1990 and 2023. It was mainly due to the widespread reliance on firewood and charcoal for daily cooking and heating needs, as well as the expansion of agriculture to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population. Also, Commercial logging and large development projects accelerated the loss of forested areas.

Uganda, like many other countries, is making a positive shift from dirty, fossil-based fuels to cleaner, sustainable energy sources. This transition is not just a change, but a beacon of hope for our planet’s future.

In the broadcast, experts in the renewable energy sector share their experiences and explain the journey of Uganda’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP); inform Ugandans to understand its importance and the aim; they will break down the ETP and Renewable Energy Policy 2023 for people to understand it; and explain how it affects everyday life.

Join us on this insightful journey. Download the Witness Radio app from the Google Play Store or tune in live on our website at www.witnessradio.org. Let’s engage in meaningful discussions and enjoy more informative content together.

Continue Reading

Resource Center

Legal Framework

READ BY CATEGORY

Facebook

Newsletter

Subscribe to Witness Radio's newsletter



Trending

Subscribe to Witness Radio's newsletter