Bidco says it is target of malicious online attacks

MANUFACTURER Bidco Africa claims there is an ongoing smear campaign by "faceless online activists" aimed at disrupting its business.

This follows claims by a farmers' lobby group in Uganda which has alleged that Bidco is involved in land grabbing, tax evasion and human rights abuses.

"There is a consistent attempt to create a narrative of Bidco Africa as a company that has deserted its values and dulled its conscience. This is not true; our conscience is clear and our values are intact,” states a letter sent by CEO Vimal Shah to the company's banks and partners on Tuesday.

The Bugala Farmers Association in Uganda recently petitioned the United Nations Development Programme to cut links with Bidco Group over claims of land grabbing, environmental destruction and human rights violations.

The group accused Bidco of failing to compensate farmers for their land it acquired at Bugala Island on Lake Victoria for its palm oil plantation. They further claimed the company has committed environmental disasters and human rights violations in Tanzania and Kenya.

However, another group of 1,800 smallholder farmers have disputed the claims by Bugala Farmers Association absolving Bidco from any blame noting that the Uganda government procured the land under which the oil palm project is ongoing on a willing buyer willing seller basis.

Last August, the Uganda Ministry of Agriculture said Bidco was only part of the oil palm project as an investor and provider of technology for the processing under the Vegetable Oil Development project being undertaken by the government on Bugala Island, Kalangala district.