More than 30 residents in Nabigasa sub-county, Kyotera District who were affected by the East African Oil Pipeline have refused to sign the Resettlement Action Plan-RAP over unfair compensation rates.
The residents argue that officials from New Plan, the company hired to carry out the valuation exercise and Total Uganda presented the forms of 2018/2019 which had been rejected by the PAPs and district. According to Cate Nakitende, a resident of Kituntu village of Kituntu village, they want their properties valued based on the revised district rates of 2020/2021.
She adds that they are not ready to sign the forms without a breakdown of how much each of their properties was allocated.
Ahmada Ssimbwa, another affected resident, says the rates presented for Kyotera are way too low compared to the rates that were allocated in Rakai, Lwengo, and Sembabule, which is unfair.
Richard Kisakye of Beterremu village says that the RAP disclosure was not as transparent as they expected adding that it was marred by coercion of the affected persons yet their concerns were not explained or resolved.
Everest Mulukusa says he cannot sign when his one acre of land, coffee trees, banana, and other crops were undervalued basing on the 2018-2019 rates. He adds that the poor valuation comes at the time when prices of land and crops such as coffee have tripled.
George Kavuma of Lyabuguma village in Betereemu parish explains that their coffee trees were allocated less than 35,000 Shillings yet those in Rakai, Sembabule, and Lwengo were allocated 88,400 Shillings.
Robert Birimuye Ssekyondwa, the Coordinator- Be Empowered Grassroots Foundation, a Community-based Organization fighting for the rights of the affected persons in Kyotera, says that they want to meet the District leaders, Total and New Plan officials about the concerns.
Patrick Kintu Kisekulo, the Kyotera LCV Chairperson, says that the affected persons reached his office complaining about the rates. He says they held a short meeting with CAO and the representatives of the affected persons advised them to be patient as they resolve the grievances.
Angella Nalwanga, the Masaka Pipeline Community Liaison Officer- Total Uganda, confirmed that they based on the 2018-2019 report to allocate the compensation rates.
She adds that they included a 15 percent increment for the properties and the delays which total to 30 percent.
She further denied coercing the affected persons to sign the forms during the RAP disclosure exercise saying that several have signed and are happy with the rates.
According to Nalwanga, the affected persons who are not pleased with the rates can file a formal complaint to have them resolved in time.
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