By Mulengera Reporters
Residents of Buvuma District are crying out for justice as shocking claims of corruption emerge in the compensation process for land taken for a palm oil project. The issue comes just ahead of President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign in Buvuma tomorrow, 3rd January 2026.
Speaking before residents at a Baraza at Nairembi Sub-County headquarters on Tuesday, 30th December 2025, Rebecca Atwiine, the Special Presidential Advisor on Anti-Corruption (SP;A-AC), warned that corruption, abuse of office, and neglect of duty are serious offenses. She referred to Article 17(1)(i), which obliges citizens to act against corruption.
Atwiine revealed that money meant to pay the affected farmers had been released by the Ministry of Finance but had not reached the people. She said that farmers who gave up their land in 2014 had waited for years, with some receiving less than they were owed, while others had not been paid at all.
Many residents had their land sizes reduced on paper, meaning they were shortchanged. After years of frustration, more than 400 people went to court in 2018 to demand the compensation they were promised.
During a presidential visit for Parish Development Model (PDM) in June 2026, the farmers presented their grievances directly to the President.
Atwiine explained that in a bid to resolve the matter, the President asked the residents to withdraw their court cases and accept reduced compensation so that payment could be made quickly, which the people gratefully agreed to.
Months later, the money had still not been paid. Atwiine reported that 28 billion shillings had been approved for compensation and 14 billion shillings had already been released to the Ministry of Agriculture by the PSST Ramathan Goobi.
She added that the delay had raised serious concerns about corruption, abuse of office, and neglect of duty, with some officials accused of deliberately blocking payments to serve selfish interest.
Atwiine emphasized that the people who gave their land for national development will have their money deposited on their accounts before the President visits Buvuma. She further vowed to have her office ensure that the President’s directive is followed so that all affected residents receive their due compensation. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
