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Hoima council petitions government over oil road compensation
Construction work on a section of the Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya Road. Residents want more money for properties destroyed during construction of the road. PHOTO BY FRANCIS MUGERWA
What you need to know:
The council says the money being given to residents is too little compared to the value of land with crops and permanent buildings.
Hoima District Council has petitioned the government to review compensation for people whose properties were destroyed during the construction of the Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya Road.
The 92km road, which links Hoima Town, a mid-western regional administrative hub, to the Kaiso-Tonya area where Tullow Oil has discovered commercially viable oil deposits, is being upgraded to tarmac.
The Hoima District Council last week passed a unanimous resolution petitioning the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), the Lands ministry and the Bunyoro Affairs minister to work closely and review the compensation rates offered to people affected by the road and the power line from the Kabalega hydropower dam in Buseruka Sub-county.
The council resolved that money being given is too little compared to the value of land with crops and permanent buildings.
“My people are getting as little as Shs3,700 for a plot of land with crops. A permanent commercial building is being compensated for as little as Shs800,000,” Ms Naume Koojo, the Kitoba Sub-county woman councillor, said while moving the motion.
She said government institutions such as health centres and schools are being compensated at a lower value compared to the current cost of construction.
Ms Koojo added that people whose properties were destroy during the construction of the line transporting power from the Kabalega hydropower dam to Kinuubi sub-power station in Hoima Town had not been adequately compensated.
“Council demands that the exercise for compensation for people affected by the road project be reviewed. People who were given little compensation should get their balance after re-evaluation of their respective properties,” the council resolved.
The Minister of State for Bunyoro Affairs, Mr Ernest Kiiza, said the President had tasked him to investigate alleged irregularities in compensations on the Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya Road.
“I have begun handling the assignment. I have already met the Works minister, Mr Abraham Byandala. he has discussed the matter with UNRA. We shall soon meet the chief government valuer and then come down to interact with the affected people.
