John Magara, Bwendero Diary Farm and Sugar Factory: Worst Corporate evildoers in Hoima

This article exposes the way in which John Magara and Bwendero sugarcane Factory, with support of Ugandan government investment in local agro-industry, have been violating the fundamental rights of communities, killing people and destroying livelihoods and ecosystems over the last five years.

Hundreds of people have been affected by a 2018 land grab in Hoima district in which John Magara and his two companies grabbed land totalling 750 hectares. Many Families have lost the means to produce food and earn a living as John Magara and his companies have converted farmlands into sugarcane plantations. With the establishment of the Sugar Factory, local communities have lost their cultural heritage.

According to the Albertine Watch investigation, it’s evident that both John Magara and his factories receive financial support from, Uganda government for establishing the factories. He has also received loans from Equity Bank of Uganda for this same project.

 As described above, the sugar factories cover the land in 10 villages in Kotoba and Kigorobya sub-counties, including areas of Birungu, Budaka,  Bulyango, Karongo/kibanjwa, Kiragura and Kiryangobe among others, though these are not the only villages where people are affected by the sugar factories. Our findings revealed that the factory had already grabbed over 2 million acres of this community. According to the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics, the total population in this community are more than 44,384 people living in Kitoba.

Community members have complained about harmful chemicals used on the sugarcane fields flowing into streams they rely on for water. The effects of the factory on livelihood are significant. People are losing access to farmland, and the environmental destruction is undermining food sovereignty far beyond the factory. The pollution of rivers and streams is affecting people living both nearby and downstream from the factory. The loss of farmland to John Magara and his Sugar Factory will affect overall food production in the region. In exchange, the companies produce sugar for export, contributing nothing to food production for the people of Kitoba, Hoima district and Bunyor at large. 

While the effects of the sugar factory are being negatively felt by the communities, local livelihoods have been disrupted by the factory, very few people from the communities are employed by the factory. In two villages, many members of the communities have worked for the factory; some told the Albertine Watch that they had nothing else to do. Elsewhere, just a handful per village has worked for the factory. In recent months, opportunities for employment have decreased over time. The factory need for labour has been greatest during early operations such as clearing land. In contrast, harvesting sugarcane, for example, requires relatively little labour since most are done using machinery.

Evidence indicates that most of the workers employed by the factory come from other districts in Uganda. Some workers the Albertine Watch have spoken with reported that they had ended up going home without payment. In January 2021, the situation became so difficult that workers reportedly started selling Sugar and fuel belonging to the factory because they were not being paid their salaries. At least ten people accused of selling the Sugar and Fuel were severely beaten by senior employees of the Bwendero Sugar factory that belong to John Magara. Workers have also been tortured on several occasions. It seems that the factory has a systemic pattern of violating labour laws to keep operating expenses low. There is also verified evidence that the Bwendero sugar factory is employing child labour as young as 8 years old.

Community members who have opposed the factory have been silenced and threatened with death and imprisonment. Although they are being threaded they are determined that they will continue to speak against the injustice they are subjected to by the Bwendero sugar Factory.

Bwendero sugar factory was established in 2018. The factory is located in Kitoba sub-county, Hoima district approximately 15 km by road North of Hoima, off the Hoima Kigorobya road. The factory worth 22 billion Ugandan shillings is owned by Hoima based John Magaraa businessman who is also the proprietor of Bwendero Dairy farm and Hoima Buffalo Hotel located in the same region. The factory deal mainly in grain mill products, starches, alcohol distillation, gold refinery and more recently they have started production of hand sanitiser to meet the demands of Covid-19 prevention measures.

Comments

comments

20 comments

  • Land for sale in masindi 85 acres . Contact me on 0776086428 or 0702288251

  • I need to attain industrial training at bwendero please drop me the resource managers contact

  • love to comment about the bwendero sugar factory: how has it benefited the community minus asking acres of land to grow sugar canes

  • we are about 20 guys who haven been taking lessons of both tractor operations and mechanics and we would like to perform our in internship at bwendero sugar factory…..these lessons were provided by shalom ventures which deals with selling of tractors , spare parts of tractors, and other machines .. this shallom ventures was sponsored by goal; uganda which is an international; NGO…. but likes empowering the youth…our request is to allow us to do our internship at your factory

  • Kugonza Donozio

    we would like to work with you Mr. Jon Magara for purposes of career development but also for improving our home. how can we access job opportunites in your company?

  • Miria rose Kabakurasi

    All we need is employment as citizens of Dwoli,and kitoba at Large.. we’re not climbing the ladder of success with our hands in pocket…. The youths let’s go and get technical skills the chance is home.

  • Miria rose Kabakurasi

    All we need is employment as citizens of Dwoli,and kitoba at Large.. we’re not going to climb the ladder of success with our hands in pocket…. The youths let’s go and get technical skills the chance is home. Enfuuzi bagitonganirra eri mumaguru ganyinina yo…. Twege’mirimo ye’ngaro👌👌👌LONG LIVE BDF

  • Thanks John magara for development of our hoima,I have 12 acres with cain already I don’t know if your interested selling it at 7m ,if interested call on 0705648989 its in kyabigambire sub county.see you there

  • Land worth 15 acres of land for sale in Buliisa oil land.
    Call 0394807168
    Watsapp 0782953737

  • I need to work with in both in factory and farm thank you

  • Nice farm thax fo allowing us to do our internship

  • We are very happy to hear the commissioning of Sugar factory at Bwendero. Congrats to Mr.John Magara and his Team. We would like to work with you, for the needs of Transport Solutions from Ashok Leyland Brand New Trucks with 5 years or 500,000 km Warranty. Stocks ex – Kampala. Show Room – Ashland Motors Africa Ltd, Kampala. We also have tie up with Uganda Development Bank for financial support. Kindly approach us for your Ashok Leyland Brand New Trucks for the Sugar Cane transportation. WhatsApp 0759 215099, call 0742 89 1676. Thank you and Stay Blessed !!

  • Ur truck drivers for UBM trailer Drive reclessly,one knocked my truck and run away

  • Kalinaki faizo

    Thank u Mr John magara for development u brought in hoima

  • Thanks. Mr john magara for what you have done to the people of hoima. Now for me am requesting for ajob in your company as amachine operator such as wheelloader, hydra, tractor,etc iwill be happy if my request is considered. Thanks

  • Am a fresher driver with a class B permit I need to drive with your company please help me for the job

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