By Mulengera Reporters
Buvuma District has been thrown into the national spotlight after President Yoweri Museveni issued a tough directive to address long-delayed compensation for residents affected by the National Oil Palm Project. The message was personally delivered on the ground by Rebecca Atwine, the Special Presidential Assistant on Anti-Corruption from State House.
Atwine told residents that the President had heard their frustrations and was angered by the years-long delay in paying families who gave up their land for the project. Thousands of residents surrendered their land years ago, hoping the project would bring development and improve lives. Instead, many have waited over a decade without receiving full payment, some were underpaid, while others discovered discrepancies in land valuations.
The issue came to Museveni’s attention after residents reported corruption, abuse of office, and neglect by local leaders. When around 450 families met him at Stake House Entebbe, the President immediately directed Atwine to investigate. Her findings confirmed that funds had already been released by the Ministry of Finance but had not reached the intended beneficiaries.
More than 400 residents had resorted to court in 2018 after years of waiting. During Museveni’s June Parish Development Model visit to Buvuma, they agreed to withdraw their cases in exchange for faster compensation but even then, payments failed to materialize, reigniting frustration.
Atwine assured the affected families that Museveni had instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to pay immediately, starting with the 28 billion shillings approved for compensation. She emphasized that all residents, court claimants and non-claimants alike would be paid according to proper valuations, and any complaints would be addressed fairly and legally.
State Minister for Lands, Sam Mayanja who accompanied Atwine reinforced the directive, confirming that 14 billion shillings had already been released and should be disbursed without delay, with additional funds to ensure no one is left out within a space of three days.
President Museveni is expected to campaign in Buvuma this weekend on either 2nd or 3rd of January 2025.
The urgency follows weeks of protests by residents who camped outside the President’s residence in Entebbe, demanding justice. While the directive brings renewed hope, many families say they will only believe the government once the funds actually reach their accounts. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
