In 2001, a German coffee firm, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG), evicted over 4,000 people from their land in Uganda to make way for a 2,500-hectare coffee plantation. The residents of Kyengeza village in Mubende district were forcefully removed from their ancestral land.
The legal battle ensued when farmers sued the government and NKG for compensation in 2002. Despite NKG’s claim of compensating 166 families, many like Scola Namuyanja say they have not received any compensation to this day.
After a prolonged legal battle and international pressure, a settlement was reached in April 2021, offering less than €1 million in compensation, a fraction of the initial demand of €30 million. However, for 143 affected individuals, including Namuyanja, this settlement is not sufficient, and they continue to seek justice.
The fight for land rights and fair compensation still continues, as Namuyanja and others demand not only compensation but also the return of their land. The journey for justice is ongoing, with Namuyanja refusing to give up, determined to hold NKG accountable.