When the Government communication officers visited Kalangala Palm Oil Project

May 06, 2016

We were welcomed by Nelson Basaalidde, the general manager of the Kalangala Oil Palm Growers Trust (KOPGT), who guided us to a plantation owned by Constantine Nsubuga.

By John Oyambi

In 2015, a UK newspaper  The Guardian had the screaming headline: ‘Ugandan farmers take on palm oil giants over land grab claims.' The article quoted a farmer saying, ‘‘No one came to talk to me before they destroyed my crops. I heard that some people were given money but I didn't receive anything.''

At the onset, the palm oil project on Bugala Island, Kalangala district was met with a lot of resistance from the islanders - not only over eviction fears, but also because the palm was a new crop, which takes 3-5 years to mature and many were deeply committed to fishing. There is a common notion that fishermen are used to quick money or a daily income and they don't save because they are assured of catching fish every day.

Fourteen years after the introduction of palm growing on Kalangala Island, 30 government communication officers from various ministries, departments and agencies coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister under Ministry of Information and National Guidance set out on a study tour to assess the progress and impact of the crop on the locals' lives.

Ms. Connie Masaba, the Project Manager Vegetable Oil Development Project (VODP) at national level sponsored the communication officers.  She said that the purpose for the Government communication officers forum (GCOF) visit was to disseminate correct information to the citizens in a bid to support the increasing vegetable oil production in a hope to reduce Uganda's heavy reliance on vegetable oil imports.

As it were, many of the Government communication officers on the trip had never set foot on the island and had only heard and imagined life on this island. Save for the rugged road from Masaka to Byukakata where we experienced difficulties, especially since it had rained, after a 30 minutes smooth ride on the ferry from Bukakata, Masaka district, the story changed. The good news is the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has plans to work on this road. There are two ferries that make five trips to and from the island per day which has made access to the island easy as compared to the past.

Contrary to what many had expected, the roads leading to the plantations, where eager farmers were waiting to talk to us, were graded and despite the heavy rains, we did not suffer any hitches like we had on the mainland. As we approached, a look outside the window of the vehicle revealed lush green vegetation, arrayed like a carpet for miles and miles across the expanse. It is an unrivalled beauty.

We were welcomed by Nelson Basaalidde, the general manager of the Kalangala Oil Palm Growers Trust (KOPGT), who guided us to a plantation owned by Constantine Nsubuga. Nsubuga is a prominent palm oil farmer had narrated to us how the crop had transformed his life, his family and the island as a whole. Referring to it as the ‘Prado Crop', a beaming Nsubuga explained that in comparison to other cash crops, the palm yields much more returns in terms of harvest and income.

One hectare of 143 trees, each producing 10 bunches of fruit, weighing an average of 18kg earns a farmer a net income of a little over sh5m per year. With farmers enjoying all year weekly harvests that are sure to continue for the next 25 years (a palm tree's lifespan), it finally clicked why palm is referred to as the ‘Prado Crop'.

The community is benefitting from newly constructed access roads, schools, health care facilities and piped water. Farmers are gaining knowledge through regular trainings and have formed savings and credit organisations and are gradually expanding their agriculture. As a benefit to the youth, the project has created direct employment to 1,400 Ugandans, with both sexes well represented. We were told only six employees on the project are foreign employees.

In his presentation, Basaalidde explained that the project came alive following a tripartite agreement entered into by the Government of Uganda, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Bidco Uganda Ltd, a consortium made up of several companies, in which case represented by the subsidiary, Oil Palm Uganda Ltd (OPUL).

A tour of the factory shows that everything from the crop is put to use. Once harvesting is done, the fibre is used to generate electricity which runs the factory, Oil Palm (U) Ltd offices and the staff residences. Some of it is used to make hard brooms, which are sold in Kampala. The water that is utilised during the processing of the crude oil is channelled to ponds for purification, which serves to irrigate the plantations. The rest of the residue is used as fertiliser on the nursery beds or returned to the farms as mulch and fertiliser.

There are currently 1,770 farmers engaged in this project and of the targeted 4,700 hectares, 4,300 hectares of land has already been planted. 54.4 million kilogrammes of palm fruit has so far been marketed on behalf of the farmers and this month of April, it is reported that farmers will earn sh2b collectively.

Willy Lugoloobi, the LCV chairman says he is happy with the discipline the project has brought to the islanders. He said the reckless social behaviour that led to high levels of HIV/AIDS prevalence on the island, have changed since the project engages many women farmers and given them a sense of ownership and responsibility and lifted them from a life of abject poverty.  

Plans are under way to expand the project to several other islands that neighbour the main Buvuma Island, with the hope that the project will be able to realise its goal of reducing the import burden on the Bidco factory in Jinja. At the moment, the crude oil produced on the Island is just enough to run the factory for three (3) out of the 30 days of the month; a massive shortfall which must be addressed.

The writer is the national coordinator of the Government Communication Offices Forum (GCOF)

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