Uganda

Bidco Africa supported the highly controversial purchase of land in Kampala, Uganda, a UN probe has found. The finding draws the Kenyan-owned edible oils manufacturer to the centre of eviction claims by peasant farmers who are fighting the firm in court.

Embattled Ugandan farmers fighting threats and land grabbing by Bidco have praised a draft report by UN investigators that calls into question the company’s business practices.

Bidco is not pleased by the protestors who turned up last week in London to highlight the company’s palm oil operations, specifically in neighbouring Uganda.

East African protesters have taken to the streets of London to demonstrate against banks that do business with Bidco Africa, highlighting the connection between global financial institutions, The Prince of Wales and widespread deforestation in Africa.

The beneficiaries of this state-led and coercive measure will result in dispossession of land owners for the benefit of the government, private companies or individuals.

There has been growing evidence that forest land grabbing by both individuals as well as a powerful alliance of international corporations and government officials is one of the major factors currently driving this loss of forest cover.

Farmers on Bugula Island, the second largest in Lake Victoria, are now locked in a legal battle with Bidco, which says it has not been involved in any land transactions.

A Ugandan group of more than 100 farmers lost their land to Bidco and now a coalition of activists are launching a new platform, No2Bidco.org, to chart Bidco abuses.

The government has given Ke-Hong Group 2,500 acres for a multi-billion shilling project involving rice farming, poultry, horticulture, and fish farming, according to agriculture minister Tress Bucyanayandi.

Kehong Uganda has embarked on massive clearing of the wetland to pave way for rice growing, horticulture, poultry and establishment of factories. The firm has also diverted the water, which has been flowing into River Lugogo and Lake Kyoga for use.

Farmers association says Bidco’s pronouncements fall flat, calls for a coalition to fight against company’s influence peddling

Ugandan farmers want the United Nations Development Programme to cut ties with Kenya’s Bidco and investigate it for alleged malpractices against Ugandan, Kenyan and Tanzanian growers.