Hoima residents give up land, crops for AFCON roads

Ninety-five percent of persons affected by the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) road works in Hoima City have given the right of way to the project contractors, Fred Byamukama, the minister for works and transport, has said.

The Government has selected a 47-kilometer road network connecting to Hoima City Stadium at a cost of sh90.8b ahead of AFCON slated for 2027. The project, which has 395 Project Affected Persons (PAPs), involves upgrading murram roads to tarmac.

The roads include Dr. Rujumba Road 1km, Mparo bypass 10km, Hoima city-Kyarwabuyamba- Bulinda-Kyarwiru 6.4km, Masindi Road division 1.5 km, Mparo by-pass to Masindi stadium 2.3km, and Kinogozi-Buhimba 11km.

Speaking during the inspection and sensitisation of PAPs on Monday (October 12), minister Byamukama said 95% out of the 395 landlords have allowed the road project to pass through their land without compensation.

Recently, a group of 30 people filed a case at Hoima High Court and on September 8, heard the case and set October 27, as the date for the judgment.

He noted that the remaining 5% were just misled and others were ignorant that the road reserve is government land.

One of the affected residents expressing her concerns to Minister Byamukama (guarded right) during the engagement in Kyakabubi village. Photo by Abaanabasazi

Byamukama noted that as a government, they are engaging the residents who are resisting the project to ensure that they embrace it.

“A total of 95% of landlords have allowed the road project to pass through their land without compensation out of 395 project affected persons. The remaining 5% were just misled and we are talking to them to ensure that they embrace the project,” he revealed.

The minister added that the residents whose houses will be directly affected, will be valued and compensated.

“For those whose houses will be affected directly, they will be valued, and after valuation, our officers should display the amount of money to the beneficiaries. We are doing this because we have discovered that out people inflate the values for their land,” he said.

He added that the roads in Hoima City are considered as access roads and this category has no compensation component.

Byamukama explained that they have already sourced the contractor and by next week, they will be commissioning the project. He tasked the contractor to consider employing local residents as one way of promoting local content.

The State Minister for Bunyoro affairs, Grace Mugasa, commended those who have offered their land for the projects, saying that Hoima city needs the roads more than any other person for development and reduction of traffic. “I want to thank those who have offered the land for the projects. As Hoima City, we need these roads because they are going to reduce traffic during AFCON and also to change the face of our area,” Mugasa said.

Dr. Patrick Isingoma Mwesigwa, the MP Hoima East Division, said the project is going to be a game changer in terms of development of Hoima city and commended the Government for funding the project.

He called on residents to support the project and promised to continue engaging those who have not given the right of way to the project to do so.

“The AFCON project in a nutshell is a real game changer as far as development initiatives in the city are concerned. The project is going to help us to open up a number of roads, which will help in accessing the stadium and the community areas within the inter-land of the stadium. It is going to create a wonderful multiplier effect in terms of development,” Isingoma stated.    

Justine Kemigisa, a resident of Butebere South village, commended the Government for including their roads among those to be upgraded.

However, she said the project is going to affect her house and requested compensation to ensure that she rebuilds another one.

Isingoma Expedito, another resident of Kyarwiru village, said he was ready to give in his land for the road construction.

He noted the project is taking 200 meters of his land, including part of his coffee and banana plantation.

Dr. Pauline Birungi, a resident of Kyarwiru, said her family is ready to give out their land for the project, but requested that the design be changed to avoid affecting their houses.