"Farmers Association Says Bidco’s Pronouncements Fall Flat, Calls for a Coalition to Fight Against Company’s Influence Peddling"

The Bugala Farmers Association, which represents over 100 subsistence farmers fighting edible oil conglomerate Bidco’s land-grabbing, has dismissed the company’s attempts to portray its Ugandan palm oil business as “clean.” Following their recent petition to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to sever its ties to Bidco, the farmers say Bidco has sought to whitewash its tarnished reputation by coercing entities that depend on the company’s largess to issue statements of support.

Reacting to Bidco’s recent statements, the Bugala Farmers Association said: “Bidco and its CEO Vimal Shah are trying to question the legitimacy of our organisation, which is new and relatively small. Once again, Bidco is trying to drown out our message and deflect attention from the facts. It’s clear that the people and entities voicing their support for Bidco will say whatever Vimal Shah wants them to say – they are financially beholden to him.”...

“We express our deep disappointment that UNDP has met our plea for action with silence,” the association said. “After being shunned by UNDP staff in Kampala and not receiving any response to our petition in almost a month, we have no reason but to conclude that Bidco is influencing the UNDP as well.”