About 500 households who were evicted by Hoima Sugar Limited in 2013 are still helpless and they have nowhere to go to.

Hoima Sugar Limited evicted about 6000 indigenous communities of Bakiga ,Banyoro and some Alur communities from 1,300 acres in Kijayo, Buhaguzi county in Kikube district to pave way for the sugar plantation.

Up to now, none of the victims of the ugly by product of the multinational company and large-scale agribusiness Hoima Sugar Limited have been compensated. Apparently, most of them are living in poor and vulnerable condition after they have been forcefully evicted and drove into three internally displaced people’s camps located within the Hoima Sugar Limited in Kijayo,Kikube district.

The affected persons filed lawsuit at the High Court in Hoima against Hoima Sugar Limited seeking for compensation for their properties, loss of lives and also for the violation of their basic fundamental human and economic rights. These individuals were seeking for compensation and payment for malicious damages to properties and lives during the eviction.

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In 2013, Hoima Sugar Limited evicted about 4,700 locals from 1,300 acres in Kijayo, Buhaguzi county in Hoima district to pave way for the sugar plantation. The locals, many of whom claim they were not compensated, currently live in two internally displaced people’s camps.

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Meanwhile over 17 children have died and close to 100 others are suffering from severe malnutrition at Kigyayo camp in Kiziranfumbi sub-county, Hoima District following a forceful land eviction two years back. On 28th February 2015, about 5000 people were evicted from 1860 hectare piece of land in Kiziranfumbi after it was leased to an investor Hoima Sugar Limited for sugarcane plantation. Namara Scovia, a 7 year old girl is the latest child to succumb to severe malnutrition while at the camp.

Kigyayo camp is located approximately 40 km away from Hoima town and about 7 km away from Kiziranfumbi sub-county headquarters. The 4 acre piece of land where the group is currently residing belongs to Church of Uganda.

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The commission of inquiry into land matters has given two weeks to the over 890 families that were evicted five years ago to pave way for Sugar cane growing in Hoima district, to conduct a mediation meeting with the sugar factory over delayed compensation for their land.

This is after the group petitioned the commission chaired by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire seeking justice for their lost land, property and livelihood all valued at over Shs 82bn.

According to the Civic Response on Environment and Development (CRED), the families was evicted in evicted in 2013 by Hoima Sugar Ltd.

Sources: https://www.observer.ug/news/headlines/54843-hoima-sugar-firm-forced-398-households-to-refugee-camps.html

https://www.albertinewatchdog.org/2019/03/29/the-500-households-evicted-by-hoima-sugar-company-limited-are-helpless/

http://www.nape.or.ug/news-events/latest-news/139-kigyayo-and-rwamutonga-land-eviction-cases-in-hoima-a-test-on-uganda-s-judicial-system

http://kfm.co.ug/news/hoima-sugar-ltd-given-two-weeks-to-handle-compensation-of-890-families.html

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