All community members should receive compensation from Kaweri Coffee
For over two decades, community members from land occupied by Kaweri coffee plantation in Uganda have fought for compensation for a brutal eviction. Through years of legal battles, they have persevered in their struggle for justice. The Ugandan state has made the first payments of promised compensation but many are protesting that it is far less than they are owed.
In January 2025 the government of Uganda compensated 54 plaintiffs (representing almost 550 evictees). This was a first step towards putting into effect a Kampala High Court ordered consent for compensation. The whole case concerned 401 plaintiffs (representing approximately 4,000 evictees); 143 of them rejected the amount offered as being far below the value of their lost land belongings, and their suffering due to the eviction and violence and are continuing their legal battle.
“What we encountered since 2001 is an injustice and violence due to the loss of our land. Those of us who chose to continue the battle in the court will do so until justice is done,” says Peter Kayiira, one of the complainants.
Powerful advocacy
Over the last decade of their struggle, and in a remarkable display of creativity and resilience, women evictees formed an advocacy group using art to amplify their message. They composed songs and skits that captured the difficult realities of their struggle and their demands for justice.
These performances served as a unique way to communicate their plight to decision-makers, making their voices heard in a way that resonated deeply with both the local community and the broader audience. They also galvanized support for their cause, proving that advocacy can take many forms and be as powerful as it is creative.
This court-ordered compensation is a step forward but also a drop in the ocean. The lives of the evictees have worsened in the last 23 years, and many are destitute. At the same time Kaweri Coffee Plantation Ltd., a subsidiary of the Hamburg based Neumann Kaffee Gruppe continues to make profits.
“We have suffered a lot; we lost everything – this compensation is symbolic and I am in poverty conditions so I can’t refuse it,” said one community member.
FIAN has been supporting the evictees in advocacy and monitoring work since the beginning of their struggle, submitting regular reports to UN human rights mechanisms (ESCR/CEDAW/UPR) and assisting with the making of a documentary.
“The Ugandan government must ensure that the rights of the evictees are restored and adequate legal remedies and compensation are provided as suggested by the UN ESCR committee,” says Valentin Hategekimana, Africa Coordinator at FIAN International
Together with other allies, FIAN will continue to support the evictees in their struggle for justice.
Read more about the Kaweri case in this factsheet
For more information, please contact Valentin Hategekimana hategekimana@fian.org
