By Jumah Kakomo
The Government of Uganda has begun the process of compensating individuals affected by the National Palm Oil Project in Buvuma and Sango Bay–Kyotera.
This follows a directive from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni that prompted the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), together with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MoLHUD), to conduct a verification exercise to identify and authenticate all Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in the two regions.
According to government officials, the affected land was valued by the Government Valuer in close consultation with the PAPs, placing the total compensation requirement at Uganda Shs 52 billion.
So far, MAAIF has received Uganda Shs 24 billion to kick-start the process. Of this, Uganda Shs 14 billion has been allocated for compensating PAPs in Buvuma, while Uganda Shs 10 billion will benefit those in Sango Bay. Compensation is already underway, with 301 residents in Buvuma having received their payments.
In total, about 2,149 individuals are expected to be compensated. This update was delivered by the State Minister for Agriculture, Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, during a briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala.
