By Dismus Buregyeya
Farmers have been excited by the government’s roll out of a palm oil program on a 150 sq miles land at Sango Bay in Kakuuto sub-county,Rakai district after a two year stalment .
The land that was previously used for large scale sugar cane plantation has been handed over to Oil Palm Uganda investment as directed by President Museveni.
Sango Bay land was formerly leased to Sango-bay es tates limited on 247sq miles of estate land, The land is composed of five Central Forest Reserves, wetlands and intensive grass lands favorable for Agriculture activities.
The Prime Minister, Robina Nabanja had earlier set may as the altimatum for the cattle keepers who have been utilizing the said land to vacate to pave way for the investors to roll out the program.
The Rakai Resident District Commissioner, Appollo Mugume confirmed the developments during an interview with The New Vision.
He said already Palm Oil authorities have started constructing a nucleus nursery and plantation base at Sango bay including other related infrastructure.
The New Vision learnt that the heavy deployment of security was effected last week to protect the investments after the land occupants started vacating the areas with their cows.
The affected people whose crops and properties had been assessed and valued by government had not yet been cleared. The Kyotera District Vice Chairperson, Agnes Namusitwa confirmed saying that the government should quickly sort out the Program Affected Persons (PAPS) to avoid any incovienances.
“We are happy that the long awaited Palm oil program for sangobay has finally started but we need to quickly clear the compensation for the affected families,” she said.
She said the program is a blessing since it will provide jobs especially the youth; contribute the local revenue tax base, household incomes and other infrastructure developments.
The neighboring communities told The New Vision that they are eargerly waiting to earn from the palm oil out-growers scheme and other benefits. The program will support out growers with seedlings and fertilizers among others according to the RDC Appollo Mugume.
The councilor representing Bigada on Kakuuto subounty council, Gatrude Nalule said that she had already prepared nine acres of land for palm oil out growers’ scheme. “For me I have already prepared 9 acres for out growers scheme, its an opportunity that I must utilize to become wealthy,’ she said.
Nalule who doubles as the secretary for health at the subcounty asked President Museveni support the women who are interested in the palm oil growing through their SACCOs.
The Kakuuto subcounty Council Chairperson, Jude Ssali said the land earmarked for palm oil investment is set for implementation after a series of meetings with the affected communities and leaders.
“We are optimistic that the palm oil project is going to transform our areas, the few challenges are managable,” he said
The councilor representing Bigada on Kakuuto subounty council, Gatrude Nalule said that she had already prepared nine acres of land for palm oil out growers’ scheme. “For me I have already prepared 9 acres for out growers scheme, its an opportunity that I must utilize to become wealthy,’ she said.
Nalule who doubles as the secretary for health at the subcounty asked President Museveni support the women who are interested in the palm oil growing through their SACCOs.
Last year the State Minister for lands, Sam Mayanja who visited the area at Bukala village said the attorney general has already approved the Sango bay palm oil developments.
Minister Mayanja said that the government will resettle the affected families. Earlier close to 10,000 refugees of Rwandese origin who initially occupied Sango Bay land were relocated to other refugee camps in Western Uganda. Mayanja said that action will be taken against Masaka lands office who connived with the culprits to acquire illegal titles in Sango bay land.
