KIKUUBE-Some of Kikuube district residents who were evicted from the land claimed by Hoima Sugar Limited have asked the sugar company to compensate them, even though the two sides are battling in Supreme Court after the company won the first case.
The evictees who now live in Kigyayo internally displaced people’s [IDP] camp were on Thursday speaking during the mediation meeting organised by the National Association of Professional Environmentalists [NAPE] to find among others, a lasting solution to the conflict.
The over 300 families were evicted from the land the contested land in 2014 to pave way for sugarcane growing in Kiziranfumbi Sub-county, Kikuube district. The company claims the land measuring 22.4 square miles was leased it by the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom for 99 years,.
Omuhereza Asaba, 60, living with six children in the camp said company should compensate them so that they can get land elsewhere to settle their families, saying court has not helped them since 2015 when they ran there to get justice.
“We have waited for justice from court but nothing is coming out, I would like the mediator to help us get compensated by Hoima Sugar Limited so that we buy land elsewhere to settle our families. We have suffered enough,” he said.
Florence Kyamukama, another evictee said they are living a miserable life in the IDP camp where they have to struggle for space in makeshift huts, coupled with the lack of social amenities like schools and health facilities as well as water.
She added they have no food because they have no land where they can cultivate, adding that compensation should be considered as a viable option for both sides.
The evictees said they also face the challenge of rape and defilement of women and teenage girls in the camp, allegedly by workers of Hoima Sugar Limited. This, they said is worsened by the contamination of a few available water sources by the company’s improper disposal of molasses.
During the mediation, Rethinasamy Venket, the Agro Manager for Hoima Sugar Limited restored the hope of the residents after he promised that the company would look into the issues raised by the evictees.
He promised that the company would fund the establishment of a police post in Kiswaza trading centre where the company factory is located to help curb crime.
He said that most of the cases allegedly committed by the workers are not reported to the company, adding that a liaison office to be established, will address the communication gap between the company and the community.
On the issues of the roads, health, education, and water, Venket promised that the company would work with local leaders and the leaders of the evictees to find solutions.
On the compensation issue of compensation and buying land for the evictees, Venket could not give a conclusive answer since there is a case in court. However, he promised that the company would discuss the matter and give feedback to the mediators after one week.
Peter Banura, the Kikuube district chairman said that mediation was long overdue, saying the dialogue between the evictees and the company is good for peace and co-existence.
Joan Akiiza, from NAPE, lauded Venket for the positive response, saying it was a sign that mediation will yield positive results, adding settling the conflict out of court is a better option.
https://thecooperator.news/hoima-sugar-limited-allows-200-farmers-to-harvest-their-crops/
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