By Witness Radio team
Entebbe, Uganda: Over 250 families affected by the government’s oil palm project express deep frustration as ongoing issues highlight their sense of neglect and exclusion from the compensation process. Residents from Nairambi, Busamizi, Buvuma Town Council, and Buwooya Sub-counties are camping at the Entebbe Children’s Centre, demanding urgent attention from authorities, including a face-to-face meeting with President Yoweri Museveni.
The residents accuse government ministries of sidelining them despite a presidential directive ordering compensation for all affected households.
“We don’t know who is being compensated,” said Mr Katuntu David, chairman of the affected residents. Mr Katuntu led hundreds of people to seek a meeting with the President.
The affected households are part of the National Oil Palm Project (NOPP), a 10-year initiative to expand oil palm cultivation across Uganda. The project is implemented by the Government of Uganda (GoU), led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), with funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Private partners, including Bidco and Equity Bank’s, collaborate with farmer organisations to develop the sector.
Community members insist they have never received official communication on who will receive compensation, which underscores their confusion and sense of being left in the dark. Attempts to obtain the beneficiary lists from MAAIF and the Ministry of Lands have reportedly been unsuccessful, deepening their uncertainty and frustration.
“We don’t know which people on the list to be compensated. The President said we should be compensated, but we have not been contacted. Only two of us were claimed to have been paid, and even then, one person did not find the money in their account. The bank said it bounced back,” added Mr Katuntu.
Residents say the Ministry of Agriculture has refused to release compensation lists or schedules, often asking them to “give the ministry time.” At the same time, some officials claim to be unaware of any presidential directive. When contacted, the Ministry’s spokesperson, Mrs Connie Achayo, did not respond.
During a June 18th, 2025, Parish Development Model monitoring tour in Buvuma District, President Museveni was briefed by then Assistant Resident District Commissioner Patrick Mubiru about the community’s displacement, crop destruction, and land loss linked to the oil palm project. The President, after the briefing, directed that all affected households be compensated and allocated 28 billion shillings for this purpose, instructing that at least 14 billion shillings be released immediately to start payments, highlighting the government’s commitment.
Six months later, residents say the directive has yet to be implemented.
Six months later, residents say the President’s directive has yet to be implemented, leaving many in hardship and distress. “The President toured here, and he said he would help. But nothing has happened since because what he ordered was never implemented. People are suffering,” said Mr Waiswa Dan, another affected resident, emphasizing their ongoing hardship and need for action.
But earlier this month, many thought their questions had been answered when the State Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fred Kyakulaga, revealed that the government was set to compensate the affected people.
In the communication, MAAIF announced that the government had secured 24 billion shillings to compensate affected residents in Buvuma and Sango Bay in Kyotera District. According to the announcement, 14 billion shillings would go to Buvuma, while 10 billion shillings would compensate Sango Bay residents.
“Following a directive by H.E. the President, MAAIF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MoLHUD), undertook a verification exercise to identify and verify Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in Buvuma and Sango Bay. Their land was valued using the Government Valuer, with the knowledge and cooperation of the affected persons. An amount of 52 billion shillings was calculated as required for compensation,” the Ministry’s brief revealed. Providing more details on these procedures can reassure stakeholders about fairness and transparency.
It added, “Out of the required 52 billion, MAAIF has received 24 billion, of which 14 billion has been allocated to Buvuma and 10 billion to Sango Bay. Based on government valuers’ reports, full payments have been made to 301 PAPs in five villages: Bubembe, Bwaka, Buwanga, Mbekete, and Ndayiga in Buvuma District. The ministry expects to compensate a total of 1,405 PAPs across 11 villages, disclosing the list to PAPs before phased payments.”
However, Buvuma residents say the ministries have refused to confirm whether they are included in this allocation, despite the President’s directive.
“The people claimed to be compensated have never been revealed, and we don’t know them. Other areas they want to compensate are not yet disclosed to us, so who are they compensating if not us?” Mr Katuntu questioned.
The compensation dispute dates back to 2018, when over 100 residents sued the government and Bidco in Mukono High Court, accusing them of forced eviction, inadequate and delayed compensation, and failure to disclose compensation amounts. The case, which stalled for years, was transferred to the Lugazi High court in this April.
Protesters, who are also complainants, say that during the President’s June visit, he advised them to withdraw the case in favour of an out-of-court settlement, promising fast-tracked compensation. While they vowed to comply, the compensation has still not materialised.
“The President told us he is ready to compensate us, which is why we decided to follow up. But nothing has been done. When we received the communication about compensating victims of palm oil expansion, we approached the relevant ministries, who have since turned us down,” Mr Katuntu further revealed.
Community leaders say they provided proof of land ownership as requested. The Ministry of Agriculture, however, allegedly insisted on written confirmation from the Ministry of Lands. Even after residents provided the requested documentation, Agriculture did not respond.
“We gave them whatever they wanted, but they didn’t act. This has caused us doubt. That is why we want to meet their boss, the President,” said Waiswa.
The protestors, including elderly farmers, women, and youth, have vowed to stay at the Entebbe Children’s Park until the President meets them.
“We cannot leave here without meeting the President. We are sure he will hear us, and we shall be compensated. That is why we are here, and we are not ready to go,” they added.
Since its initial implementation, the oil palm project has affected thousands of people. For people in Buvuma, Mr Katuntu revealed that some affected families have endured more than a decade of suffering since the oil palm project began expanding, losing homes, land, and livelihoods. They are calling for the President’s intervention to ensure full compensation of all legitimate project-affected persons.
