Mukono rejects BIDCO land bid
Jan 06, 2007
MUKONO district has rejected BIDCO’s request for land to grow palm trees, blocking the company’s quest for more land.
By Joel Ogwang
MUKONO district has rejected BIDCO’s request for land to grow palm trees, blocking the company’s quest for more land.
BIDCO signed an agreement with the Government to get 10,000 hectares of land to plant palm oil trees in Kalangala. However, the company got only 6,500 hectares, leaving a deficit of 3,500.
The company manufactures cooking oil, margarine and soap.
Francis Lukooya, the LC5 chairman, said giving out land in Nairambi sub-county would necessitate evicting residents.
He said while BIDCO’s request would boost investment, residents cannot be sacrifised.
“We can do business with BIDCO if they allow locals to be outgrowers,†Lukooya said in an interview on Thursday.
He said 100 people with 200 acres of land are interested in growing palm trees.
Lukooya said BIDCO can send experts to the district to ensure that quality trees are planted and harvested.
He said the district was also against granting the Sugar Corporation of Uganda (SCOUL) 7,100 hectares of Mabira Forest to grow sugarcane.
“There are 20,000 people ready to grow sugarcane if SCOUL guarantees market,†he said.
“People will earn as outgrowers more than if they are hired to plant crops in plantations owned by SCOUL and BIDCO,†he concluded.
MUKONO district has rejected BIDCO’s request for land to grow palm trees, blocking the company’s quest for more land.
BIDCO signed an agreement with the Government to get 10,000 hectares of land to plant palm oil trees in Kalangala. However, the company got only 6,500 hectares, leaving a deficit of 3,500.
The company manufactures cooking oil, margarine and soap.
Francis Lukooya, the LC5 chairman, said giving out land in Nairambi sub-county would necessitate evicting residents.
He said while BIDCO’s request would boost investment, residents cannot be sacrifised.
“We can do business with BIDCO if they allow locals to be outgrowers,†Lukooya said in an interview on Thursday.
He said 100 people with 200 acres of land are interested in growing palm trees.
Lukooya said BIDCO can send experts to the district to ensure that quality trees are planted and harvested.
He said the district was also against granting the Sugar Corporation of Uganda (SCOUL) 7,100 hectares of Mabira Forest to grow sugarcane.
“There are 20,000 people ready to grow sugarcane if SCOUL guarantees market,†he said.
“People will earn as outgrowers more than if they are hired to plant crops in plantations owned by SCOUL and BIDCO,†he concluded.