URC earmarks sh52b for compensation of encroachers

May 16, 2022

According to Sendegeya, the improved network will link Uganda through Malaba to Naivasha, where Kenya’s new inland container depot is located.

According to Sendegeya, the improved network will link Uganda through Malaba to Naivasha, where Kenya’s new inland container depot is located.

Edward Kayiwa
Journalist @New Vision

UGANDA RAILWAY | CORPORATION | COMPENSATION 

KAMPALA - The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has finally set aside approximately sh52b for compensation of encroachers on its land, to pave way for the ongoing rehabilitation of the old meter-gauge railway from Kampala to Malaba.

According to the managing director, Stanley Sendegeya, only people who were domiciled on the land before 2021 will be compensated by the railway master.

He said a census has already been conducted to determine the number of people to be compensated, and the amount due to each, to allow for peaceful evacuation of aliens on the land and allow for smooth project implementation.

“Those who have land titles are not eligible for this kind of compensation, because the case is still in court. We are waiting for the outcome of the court in order to determine the way forward,” he said.

He said according to their records, those with land titles are the minority, meaning the project should not be delayed while waiting for the court outcome.

He said very soon, the railway master will start the compensation process because already, the 12 months of rehabilitation works are ongoing, and must not be delayed.

In January, government contracted Chinese construction firm, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) to do the rehabilitation of the 260kilometer railway line between Kampala and the border district of Malaba in Eastern Uganda.

According to Sendegeya, the improved network will link Uganda through Malaba to Naivasha, where Kenya’s new inland container depot is located.

He said the corporation has laid an ambitious plan to fully revive business on the silent tracks and is already implementing plans to rehabilitate and purchase key components of the railway network, in order to fully resume operations.

Although previously, local leaders in the encroached sections of the railway have been demanding compensation from URC, the organisation had remained tight-lipped on the issue until today when they openly came out with a formal position.

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (PAC- COSASE) also recently advised URC to compensate the encroachers, especially those with proof of purchase of sections of the land.

The committee also advised that URC should engage an independent firm to make an inventory of its land, and put in place mechanisms to enhance its (URC) capacity to protect and utilise the land.

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