By Aggrey Baba
In a dramatic move to protect the multi-billion shilling Sango Bay Palm Oil Project, the government has revoked over 10,000 illegally obtained land titles in Kyotera district.
The sweeping cancellations, ordered by President Yoweri Museveni, aim to prevent disruptions and land disputes that have long threatened the project’s progress.
Lands State Minister Dr. Sam Mayanja led a fact-finding mission recently, alongside officials from State House, local government leaders, and district authorities. The team investigated widespread allegations of land grabbing, illegal evictions, and compensation delays.
The Sango Bay Palm Oil Project is a major government initiative to boost Uganda’s palm oil industry. In 2020, the Cabinet resolved to allocate land to BIDCO, a major palm oil company, for plantations and a refinery.
The government set aside 26,500 hectares for a nucleus plantation and 40,000 hectares for outgrowers. However, by the time the government repossessed the land, only 11,500 hectares had been secured in Kalangala and Buvuma districts, with 4,848 hectares designated for outgrowers.
Minister Mayanja exposed fraudulent land allocations and illegal land titling as key obstacles slowing down the project. He noted that sensitive environmental zones, including the SAMIKA Ramsar site, had been encroached upon. Now, with illegal developments halted and boundaries clearly marked, the government is ready to push forward.
To ease tensions, the government pledged to compensate all 740 verified project-affected persons, with Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja confirming that Ugx23 billion has been earmarked for payouts.
Minister Mayanja emphasized that legitimate relocations, such as moving domestic animals or stopping unauthorized construction, should not be mistaken for evictions.
While the land battles have stretched on for nearly 14 years, dating back to a 2006 dispute, the government officially reclaimed Sango Bay through a re-entry process in 2011.
Now, with land fraudsters out of the way, the stage is set for a full-scale investment in Uganda’s palm oil industry.
Local leaders have thrown their support behind the clean-up operation. Kyotera District Chairperson Patrick Kintu Kisekulo backed the government’s efforts, confirming that one square mile of land will be reserved for outgrowers.
With illegal land titles revoked, environmental protections enforced, and compensation funds secured, the long-delayed Sango Bay Palm Oil Project finally seems to be back on track.
Will this be the final chapter in Uganda’s land wrangles, or just another battle in the ongoing war over land? Time will tell. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [Whats App line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
