I don’t own Bidco, says Museveni
President Museveni campaigns in Buvuma on Thursday. Photo by PPU.
Buvuma.
A resident in Buvuma Islands yesterday tasked Mr Museveni to explain the allegations that he is the owner of Oil Palm Uganda Ltd, a regional edible oil and soap manufacturer, Bidco.
When the President, who was campaigning in Buvuma Islands called one of the aggrieved residents to the podium to explain his tenancy on the disputed land in Buvuma Islands, he told the President that Bidco cheated them through unfair valuation of their land and whenever they complain, they are told that the President is the boss of the company.
“Those (claiming I own Bidco) will go to hell because God is seeing them. They are telling lies. I don’t care about what those people say, God will punish them because they are telling lies,” the President said. The residents had complained that the Bidco people were paying them Shs3m per 10 acres and that this is far below the market price.
In 2012, the government held negotiations with at least 10,000 land holders in Buvuma Island District who were protesting against their pending eviction from their land to pave way for the palm oil project. The government has reportedly agreed to source 30,000 more hectares of oil palm on the mainland with 20,000ha of nucleus estate and 10,000ha for the outgrowers and smallholder farmers.
However, in 2010 when environmentalists raised concerns over Bidco project, Mr Museveni criticised environmentalists saying that “… some people wanted to block the project because they wanted to protect butterflies instead of development. But butterflies can go and live elsewhere.”
The government had promised that the affected residents will also have permanent houses built for them on top of providing water, electricity and good roads to their homes. He also promised a bigger ferry to help the islanders connect to the mainland in addition to more schools and hospitals on the island.
The President, who took the residents through the process of land acquisition, promised to send Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda and a team of lawyers to assist the residents in Buvuma Islands. He also explained that government can acquire land for public interest such as the construction of an airport but cannot force land owners to relinquish their interests.
“People like Betty Nambooze were claiming they want Kabaka but we told them they are hypocrites. The Namboozes were fighting the amendments to the Land Act but we passed it,” Mr Museveni told supporters in Buvuma Islands. Mr Museveni held one rally in the district before he opened his campaigns in Kampala District.
Land valuation
On the question of valuation, the President told the residents not to waste time on the issue because they accepted to sell their land.
The President cautioned landless people in Buvuma Islands against telling lies that they are bonafide occupants yet they are not.
Responding to the request of the Islanders who trooped from the 53 Islands that make up the district, Mr Museveni promised to give a second constituency in Buvuma Islands.
