At least 700 residents in Mpigi district have petitioned Parliament claiming UNRA has not adequately compensated them for the 60km Kampala - Mityana road constructed between 2008 and 2012.
Persons
affected by road projects are demanding expedited compensation for their land.
At least 700
residents in Mpigi district have petitioned Parliament accusing the Uganda National
Roads Authority-UNRA of not adequately compensating them for the 60km
Kampala - Mityana road that was constructed between 2008.
Denasio
Sserunjogi, a resident along Katende-Bujuuko road, whose construction is yet to
commence says that his land title was taken by UNRA and still waiting on
compensation. He says that while it is good to have development in the area,
the Ministry of Works and Transport should respect their rights.
//Cue in:
“Turibasanyifu …
Cue out: … ebyapa byabe.”//
In Luwero
District, at least 300 residents have expressed displeasure with how UNRA is
handling their compensation despite the commencement of the Luwero –
Kiwoko-Butalangu road project.
Through
their area Member of Parliament, Allan Mayanja, the residents have threatened
to sue the Government for violating their rights to property.
//Cue in:
“Construction of…
Cue out: … across the country.”//
Several
other residents in Bujuuko in Mpigi District, Northern Bypass are equally
victims of delayed or inadequate compensation.
Asuman
Basalirwa, also the Buguri Municipality MP blames UNRA and the Ministry of
Works for defying court directives on matters of compensation.
//Cue in:
“Construction of…
Cue out: … across the country.”//
But Gen
Edward Katumba Wamala, the Minister for Works and Transport regretted the
delays but said the Government will compensate all the claimants and also will
return all land titles to the affected persons where road projects are being
implemented.
//Cue in: “We may delay to…
Cue out: … returned to them.”//
He cited disagreement among families as another challenge affecting the smooth
compensation of landowners affected by road projects. He says that in such
cases, the government deposits the money in court until such family
disagreements are resolved.
While on an
oversight tour of districts in the Central Buganda region that includes Wakiso,
Mpigi, Mukono, Butambala, Gomba, and Mityana among others, several residents
petitioned the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga to amplify
their concerns on the compensation.
Addressing
project-affected persons of the Kampala - Mityana road and the proposed
Katende - Bujuuko road, Mpuuga said that attempts by UNRA to begin on any new
road projects without due compensation to the land owners along the project
area should be rejected.
The LOP
implored UNRA to adequately compensate landowners before implementing any road
construction projects, adding that the law requires that property owners get
adequate compensation prior to the government takeover.
Several road
construction projects in Uganda experience delays which are partly due to
challenges in land acquisition.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and later Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
