Everything Under The Sun: Amaru Residents Protect Their Land: The Film

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Amaru Residents Protect Their Land: The Film

The film crew captures an interview with activist, Oyaka Makmot, in Kampala.

Films are made every year about smaller topics than what the major movie companies produce. Sometimes those are shorter films, small-budget movies with fictional themes, and even documentaries about issues which are not usually publicized by major news media. If not for these smaller films, also known as independent films, some themes would never even find an audience.

Krista Imbesi is a filmmaker with two films already to her credit. She has worked in pre-production on American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs and worked in post-production on the Jennifer Arnold film, A Small Act. For the past few years, she has been diligently raising funds for the film, OUR FEET ARE ROOTED.

The film is to present the story of the families who live in the Amaru District and their battle against the large corporations which are trying to grab the 100,000 acres on which they live and farm. The land-grabbing companies have been so intent on having their way that they have become violent. The ones suffering are the Amaru residents, who have often found themselves hungry, homeless, and dead. One of the companies, Madhvani Sugar Corporation, has teamed with the government to force the residents off their land. The film will tell the stories of both sides, while allowing members of the community to participate and contribute to the filming of their story.

Krista stated, "Ugandans know that land is a contentious issue all around the country, though popular models for dealing with land disputes have largely failed the most marginalized demographics (women, children, rural poor, the disabled, and the unemployed). This film will help us spread the message of nonviolence, detailing how one community has achieved success by defending their land through dialogue and nonviolent methods (such as strategic noncooperation). It will help inspire similar movements and strategic planning for social and environmental justice throughout the nation."

Acayo Everlyn discusses how she was affected by the land grab.

The residents of Amaru District have paid a heavy price in their battle. SOLIDARITY UGANDA, an organization which has provided needed assistance to the residents, has cataloged 40 illegal arrests, more than 500 village livestock killed by military forces, more than 1000 homes burned to the ground, hundreds of forced evictions of residents, and at least 4 deaths related to land-grab issues. Despite this ravaging, the residents have refused to leave. They are still striving to prevent the theft of their lands and to protect the human rights of the residents.