Deal #1976 Version #56435

The company states " Prior to project commencement, there was extensive consultation with the affected communities, including public hearings. The project was initiated with support from the communities and local and district leadership". Other data sources states that no consultation occurred.

Community outcries for the project to be reformed or shut-down have been ignored. Affected communities are demanding the return of land improperly taken, guarantees for the protection of community land rights, compensation for crop damage, and long term protection of community forests, water, and other natural resources. On 19 February 2015, a group of farmers filed a lawsuit against Bidco Uganda and Amos Ssempa, who leased the land to Opul.

Around 100 small scale farmers and their families. One report states that thousands of community members have been displaced.

Some of the displaced received new land. Some reports suggest that the community received inadequate compensation (ranging from Shs 100 000 to 1.5million) for their land and that international norms and national laws were broken. The report also claims the communities suffer from degraded water sources. Another report states that the squatters were offered between $35 and $200.

infrastructure – such as electric power, roads, ferries and medical facilities