For decades now, the government introduced the growing of oil palm plants mainly for the people in the islands as an alternative means of livelihood.
Having started in Kalangala district in 2002 where it is believed to have caused a very positive change, the government switched the business to also benefit the islanders in Buvuma district.
Buvuma district chairman, Adrian Wasswa Ddungu reports that after the take-off of the business, where the investor of BIDCO had started growing the nucleus estate and the growers were also given a leeway to also start, they also considered the involvement of the institutions.
Ddungu however said that though the Anglican Church through Mukono diocese embraced the idea and seriously started the growing to the extent that their oil palm plants are due for harvest, it was a different story with Lugazi Catholic diocese.
The district boss made the revelation before the bishop of Mukono diocese, Enos Kitto Kagodo who was in company with a delegation of other religious and other leaders from the headquarter of the diocese in Mukono. Bishop Kagodo was in Buvuma last week for a two-day pastoral visit.
Ddungu said that following the encroachment on the church land, the catholic church being the leading landlord in the district, they thought of planting oil palm on a big part of the land, as a means of making the land busy and protecting it from the encroachers.
He however reported that when they visited the bishop of Lugazi diocese, Christopher Kakooza and sold to him the idea, he declined it saying as the catholic church they do not plant oil palm plants.
“He also referred us to Kalangala district saying the catholic church there also did not plant oil palm plants as well,” he said.
He added; “Apart from making the land busy and keeping it out of encroachers, we also thought when the time of harvest comes, the harvests would boost the incomes of the church and relieve it from over-depending on the Christians’ meagre offerings.”
While meeting the Buvuma district leadership and technical staff, the Bishop of Mukono Diocese, Enos Kitto Kagodo thanked the government for changing the face of Buvuma islands through improvement of the road infrastructure, saying that coupled with popularisation of the oil palm production project, prospects for development are abundant.
Bp. Kagodo was happy to note that out growers have grasped opportunities provided and that as a church, they have set up a 30-acre plantation and that initial harvest is due this year.
Kagodo was on a two-day pastoral visit to the islands where he inspected church projects including churches and a church founded primary schools; he mobilised believers to diversify their production so as to cut on over-dependence on fishing.
He predicted that if more islanders embrace oil palm growing, the islands are destined to become a tourist attraction in five years.
Wilson Sserunjogi, the Senior Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for Buvuma district who also doubles as the oil palm focal person said that out of the 2,500 hectares meant to be planted by the out growers, over 1700 are already planted.
Sserunjogi also said that 318 hectares also belonging to the out growers are already prepared and that their owners are just waiting for the rains to start planting.
“I also acknowledge the government for having provided MV Delta, a ferry which is going to deliver ready oil palm seedlings from Sango Bay to Buvuma for the ready farmers to plant. Our seedlings in the nursery in Buvuma are currently not ready,” he noted.
Outlining achievements of the church in Buvuma, Buvuma Mission Parish Priest, Rev. Brian Kiggundu reported that under the guidance of the Archdeacon, Canon Stephen Kironde, they had instituted a house-to-house evangelisation mission, which he said is running as scheduled.
“Buvuma pastoral area comprises 53 islands bordering Kenya to the east, and Tanzania to the south. So far we only have 53 churches,” he reported.
The parish priest noted that because many of these churches are in hard-to-reach areas, there is a need for a modern boat and engine to simplify movement during monitoring and other pastoral exercises.