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Oil pipeline affected persons in Kyotera cry foul over compensation
Some of the residents during a meeting with the Leader of Opposition Mr Mathias Mpuuga during his oversight visit in Kakuuto Sub County on October 22, 2023. PHOTO | GERTRUDE MUTYABA
What you need to know:
- The residents accused Mr Jude Ssali, the LCIII chairperson for Kakuuto of being behind the scheme to steal their land.
A section of project- affected persons (PAPs) of East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Kyotera District claim they were intimidated into surrendering their land for the project.
During a meeting at Bigada Village in Kakuuto Sub County in Kyotera District over the weekend, the residents informed the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mr Mathias Mpuuga that they were forced to sign compensation documents and money given to them is not commensurate with the size of the land taken.
For example, Mr Cosmas Yiga, a resident of Bigada Village, said he owns over five acres of land in the area and EACOP officials wanted to compensate him with only Shs3m which he rejected.
“I refused to sign the compensation papers and instead petitioned the office of Leader of Opposition to come and listen to our grievances,” Mr Yiga said
He said he told other PAPs in the area not to sign any documents giving away their land, but many did not take heed.
Mr Frank Ddungu, another resident of Nkoni Village, said he was given only Shs300, 000 as a compensation for his 50 by 100ft piece of his land.
“When I refused the money, they threatened me that they would take the land forcefully so I decided to sign the documents because the army was around and I feared for my life,” Mr Ddungu said.
Ms Teddy Nakiryowa, another resident narrated that after mapping some piece of land affected by the project, the EACOP officials later returned to the village and expanded the demarcations without her consent.
“I do not know what to do because they [EACOP officials] returned and demarcated more land, and they left me with a small portion where my house is located,” she said.
The residents accused Mr Jude Ssali, the LCIII chairperson for Kakuuto of being behind the scheme to steal their land.
Mr Muhammad Ssengoba, a landlord said: “I wonder why they compensated tenants on my land and left out the land owner.”
Mr Jude Ssali, who also doubles as the Liaison’s officer for EACOP in the district dismissed the claims saying all PAPs signed the compensation papers willingly.
“It is true we rated banana plantation at Shs33,000 per plant, but we later revised the rates to Shs83,000,” he said.
He also denied reports that some pieces of land were forcibly taken from PAPs.
Mr Mpuuga asked Mr Ssali why he opted to work with EACOP against his electorate.
“Ssali has told me he gets an allowance whenever he moves with the EACOP team. This is very serious. He needs to think about the people who entrusted him with leadership,” Mr Mpuuga said.
