The government has confirmed significant progress in compensating people affected by the National Oil Palm Project in Sango Bay and Buvuma District, with thousands of Project-Affected Persons (PAPs) already verified and hundreds fully paid.
The remaining beneficiaries are expected to receive their compensation once the final verification report is completed.
The update was issued by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Fred Kyakulaga Bwino, during a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala.
He revealed that over Shs24 billion has already been disbursed to beneficiaries out of the Shs52 billion earmarked for full compensation.
According to Minister Kyakulaga, the Ministry of Agriculture, working in coordination with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MoLH&UD), conducted a thorough land verification and valuation exercise in Sango Bay and Buvuma.
The process involved identifying PAPs, assessing affected property and validating claims in the presence of community representatives.
“We conducted a rigorous and transparent verification to ensure every affected person is rightfully compensated,” Kyakulaga explained.
“Government valuers established that Shs52 billion is needed to fully compensate all project-affected persons, and we are already implementing these payments.”
He clarified that the Shs24 billion released so far is specifically designated for compensating PAPs in Sango Bay, with additional tranches expected to follow once pending reports are submitted.
The minister also revealed that substantial progress has been made in Buvuma District, where all verified PAPs in five villages — Buwanga, Bubembe, Buwaka, Mbeke and Ndayiga — have been fully paid.
A total of 301 people in these villages have already received their compensation. Government estimates that 1,405 project-affected persons across 11 villages will be compensated by the time the exercise is fully completed.
“The disclosure exercise in Buvuma has been successfully carried out,” Kyakulaga said.
“Payments will continue in phases in line with guidance issued by His Excellency the President regarding Sango Bay.”
The Ministry of Lands is still finalising disclosures in some areas that were not fully covered in earlier phases.
Once its final report is submitted, the Ministry of Agriculture will initiate the next round of payments.
“We are committed to ensuring that every eligible person is compensated,” Kyakulaga assured.
“As soon as MoLH&UD completes the remaining disclosure work, the government will release and disburse the balance needed to complete the compensation cycle.”
The National Oil Palm Project is one of Uganda’s biggest agro-industrial investments, aimed at boosting domestic production of vegetable oils and reducing imports.
However, parts of the project required land acquisition in Sango Bay and Buvuma, triggering a comprehensive compensation programme for affected landowners.