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Article

6 Aug 2015

Author:
Moses Michira, Standard Digital (Kenya)

Uganda govt. defends Bidco against displacement claims; says it was "solely responsible" for acquisition of disputed land

"Ugandan authorities clear Bidco over land grabbing claims"

Uganda has dismissed claims of land grabbing made against Bidco in a statement from its Agriculture Minister Vincent Rubarema…Mr Rubarema said in a statement that the land Bidco is using to grow palm oil trees is owned by the government. "The Government of Uganda was solely responsible for the acquisition of the land for the project. This was our exclusive role as per the partnership agreement," he said.

 Part of the land leased from a private land owner for the project is now subject of a civil suit filed in a Ugandan court by people thought to be squatters and is currently pending determination.  Bidco, owned by the family of billionaire manufacturer Vimal Shah, has come under heavy criticism over allegations of land grabbing and displacement of thousands of people in Kalangala District of Uganda…

 A civil society group known as Friends of the Earth claimed earlier this year that officials of the Ugandan palm oil firm should be prosecuted for displacing thousands of locals from their farms.