MAAIF confirms compensation for oil palm project-affected persons

6 December 2025, 10:49 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has confirmed that several people affected by the National Oil Palm Project in Sango Bay and Buvuma District have already been compensated, while the remaining beneficiaries will also receive their payments.

This was announced by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Fred Kyakulaga Bwino, during a press conference held yesterday at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala. According to the minister, more than Uganda Shillings 24 billion has so far been used for compensation.

He explained that, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MoLH&UD), a verification exercise was conducted to identify and validate project-affected persons (PAPs) in Buvuma and Sango Bay. Land belonging to these individuals was valued by a government valuer, with the participation of the affected communities.

“An amount of Uganda Shillings 52 billion was calculated as required for the compensation of the project-affected persons. Out of this, MAAIF has received Uganda Shillings 24 billion to compensate PAPs in Sango Bay,” the minister said.

He added that this is only part of the total payment. Based on the government valuers’ report, MAAIF has made full payments to 301 affected persons in the five villages of Buwanga, Bubembe, Buwaka, Mbeke, and Ndayiga in Buvuma District. The ministry expects to compensate a total of 1,405 PAPs across 11 villages.

“Disclosure to the PAPs in Buvuma has been completed, and payment will be done in a phased manner, as guided by the President’s directive in Sango Bay,” he emphasised.

MoLH&UD is still carrying out disclosure, and once its report is submitted, all funds required to complete the compensation process will be released.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of East African Community Affairs (MEACA), through its Department of Political Affairs, participated in a high-level consultative engagement organised by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to discuss the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation Bill, 2025.

The two-day meeting, held at Four Points by Sheraton in Kampala, brought together EALA MPs, government representatives, development partners, and civil society actors to review the proposed regional legislation aimed at ending female genital mutilation across the East African Community. Uganda’s presentation was delivered by Mrs Ingrid Owomugisha, Regional Integration Officer at MEACA’s Department of Political Affairs, who reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the objectives of the bill.