KAGADI RESIDENTS REFUSE GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION FOR LAND

By Yosam Gucwaki

www.mknewslink.com

In Kagadi

Residents of Kyaterekera Sub County in Kagadi district have rejected governments proposed compensation for their land to pave way for the 44.7MW Muzizi Hydro Power project to be developed by Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL).

The project is to be implemented at River Muzizi in the districts of Kagadi, Kyenjonjo, Kabarole and Ntorooko.

According to the residents, Government through New Plan company limited released a programme of compensating the affected people but residents say the governments compensation rates are too low for their land and other property, asserting that some of them have been promised to get less than ten thousand shillings.

Over 600 people from the villages of Rubiri, Buswaka, Muzizi A and Muzizi B in Kagadi district and Kaswa in Kyenjojo district, are estimated to share over 2b shillings.

Speaking during a meeting organized by Kagadi district security committee at Muzizi A trading Centre to ascertain issues affecting residents of Kyaterekera sub county over the construction of Muzizi hydro power project, residents revealed that, their property were under-rated and they cannot afford to acquire new land for resettlement.

They therefore appealed to Kagadi district leaders to task the government of Uganda through the New plan Limited company responsible for compensation, to review the compensation rates or else they will not pave way for the development of Muzizi Hydro power project.

Residents also decried the reported illegal land tittles owned by some government officials especially the chairperson Electoral commission, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama and the Kagadi clerk to council Eric Sunday, whom they accuse to have disorganized the compensation process.

In response to the residents concerns, the resident district commissioner Kagadi, Lillian Ruteraho warned Kyaterekera residents against accusing the government of grabbing their property during the compensation process.

Ruteraho and other security team members agreed to invite officials from New Plan Company limited to harmonize the compensation matters in Kyaterekera Sub County.

Efforts to get a comment from Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL) were futile by press time.

Source: www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com Tel: +256702680106