Pineapple farmers in Luwero face eviction

Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 50 pineapple farmers are facing eviction from a 500-acre piece of land at Kaaya ranch in Luwero district.

Last year, the farmers rented pieces of land ranging from 5-100 acres each to grow pineapples at Late Cranmer Kaaya ranch located at Kalwanga parish in Butuntumula sub-county.

The farmers rented the land from the children of the late Kaaya who include Wasswa Kaaya, Njego Kaaya, Sarah Kaaya and Paul Ssensibo Kaaya among others.

Samuel Kayongo, the Chairperson of Luwero Pineapple Farmers and Traders Association says that each farmer paid rental fees of between 600,000-1,000,000 shillings per acre for the next five years.

Kayongo explains that since then, farmers have planted pineapples but before harvests, they have received information that the family is now selling the land to investors to grow sugarcane something that may plunge them into losses.

Kayongo says that so far each acre of pineapple is worth 4-8 million shillings and they can’t leave the land before the expiry of the rent period.

Richard Sunday Sebakijje, a farmer in Nabigoza village says that he rented 70 acres whereas Richard Tabi got 55 acres but the two had grown pineapples on 40 acres each.

Sarah Ndikirya, another affected farmer said they got loans to rent the land and grow pineapples but now they may fail to repay them if they lose the land before harvests.

Emmy Ssemugabi, a pineapple farmer says that the landlords have the right to sell the land but they need assurance that the new landlord will not evict them before the expiry of agreed rental years.

The farmers have since appealed to Luwero LCV Chairperson Erastus Kibirango and Resident District Commissioner Richard Bwabye to intervene and block the family from selling the land without consideration of their interests.

Kibirango says that he has visited the gardens and established that the farmers invested heavily in pineapple growing and deserve consideration in the land sale.

Kibirango says that he will write to the family and seek dialogue with them to consider the farmers.

Wasswa Kaaya, a son of late Kaaya confirmed that they have approached Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (SCOUL) to buy two and a half out of four square miles they own in the area for sugarcane growing.

Wasswa says the move was intended to help the family rescue other land titles which are held by banks and money lenders after their late brother Tom Kaaya acquired loans from them.

Wasswa however explained that talks are ongoing and the interests of pineapple farmers will be considered because they are aware that they have invested heavily in the land.

“People shouldn’t be scared. We are also human. I have ever grown pineapples and I know the high costs involved. I will meet the farmers on Saturday and explain to them that no one will be evicted before the expiration of the five years which we agreed upon” Wasswa said.

Luwero district is a hotbed for land conflicts. At least 20 people visit the offices of RDC per week seeking intervention to restrain landlords from evicting them on pieces of land.

According to Household Parish Development Model survey conducted in June this year, only six parishes grow pineapples in Luwero district.

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