Butamira Farmers Get Paid
Sep 12, 2002
THE Government has paid sh425.5m as compensation to 158 farmers who were recently asked to leave Butamira forest reserve in Jinja, the Minister of Water, Lands and Environment, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, said on Wednesday.
By Hamis Kaheru
and Joyce Namutebi
THE Government has paid sh425.5m as compensation to 158 farmers who were recently asked to leave Butamira forest reserve in Jinja, the Minister of Water, Lands and Environment, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, said on Wednesday.
Rugunda told Parliament that the first batch of 96 farmers received sh292.6m while the second batch of 62 farmers received sh132.9m.
He said valuation for compensation of the last batch of 38 farmers was completed and they would receive sh87.9m as soon as the finance ministry releases the money.
The minister was responding to a “question for oral answer†from the MP for Kagoma, Dr Frank Nabwiso, who has led a crusade in Parliament to protect the rights of the farmers.
The Government handed over the forest reserve to Kakira Sugar Works for sugarcane growing on the agreement that farmers who had permits to grow trees would be compensated.
Rugunda said the compensation to the farmers was for trees they had planted in the forest reserve and not for the land they used to occupy.
He said valuation was carried out by the Chief Government Valuer.
He said an area equivalent to Butamira forest reserve (1,257ha.) had been identified and set aside in South Busoga Forest Reserve for KSW to plant trees to replace Butamira. End
and Joyce Namutebi
THE Government has paid sh425.5m as compensation to 158 farmers who were recently asked to leave Butamira forest reserve in Jinja, the Minister of Water, Lands and Environment, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, said on Wednesday.
Rugunda told Parliament that the first batch of 96 farmers received sh292.6m while the second batch of 62 farmers received sh132.9m.
He said valuation for compensation of the last batch of 38 farmers was completed and they would receive sh87.9m as soon as the finance ministry releases the money.
The minister was responding to a “question for oral answer†from the MP for Kagoma, Dr Frank Nabwiso, who has led a crusade in Parliament to protect the rights of the farmers.
The Government handed over the forest reserve to Kakira Sugar Works for sugarcane growing on the agreement that farmers who had permits to grow trees would be compensated.
Rugunda said the compensation to the farmers was for trees they had planted in the forest reserve and not for the land they used to occupy.
He said valuation was carried out by the Chief Government Valuer.
He said an area equivalent to Butamira forest reserve (1,257ha.) had been identified and set aside in South Busoga Forest Reserve for KSW to plant trees to replace Butamira. End