The case has been dragging since 2015. The first time the case was set for a hearing was in June and the presiding judge pushed it to October 25 because he was conducting election petitions.
The case is before Masaka residential Judge Eludes Keitirima who is reported to be presiding over criminal cases in West Nile district of Arua.
Together with their lawyer Kalule Ahmed Mukasa, the farmers received the news with shock. They had anticipated that this time around, they would have an opportunity to prosecute their case before the judge, something that they have not been able to do since 2015.
‘’My clients spend a lot of resources to make it to court each time the case is scheduled and it does not kick off, this is unfair for poor farmers who are burdened by the delay in adjudicating of the long drawn legal battle with Bidco’’ said Lawyer Kalule.
Many of the farmers who turned up for the anticipated court session said they continue to live in deplorable conditions.
The farmers dragged BIDCO and the Attorney General to court accusing the company of grabbing their land for palm oil growing without adequately compensating them.
Both lawyers for the Attorney General and Bidco did not show up at the court and they could not be available for a comment by press time.
The case has been rescheduled for the 19th of December this year.