Bujagali pays residents for property
Jun 12, 2008
THE compensation of over 2,600 people whose property was affected by the construction of the 250 Megawatt Bujagali power line has kicked off. The lines include the 13km Bujagali-Jinja network and the 80km Bujagali-Kampala-Kawanda grid.
By Chris Kiwawulo
THE compensation of over 2,600 people whose property was affected by the construction of the 250 Megawatt Bujagali power line has kicked off. The lines include the 13km Bujagali-Jinja network and the 80km Bujagali-Kampala-Kawanda grid.
According to Dennis Makuba, the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company manager in charge of the Bujagali project, sh34b had been earmarked for compensation and resettlement of the affected people.
“The money will be paid through Stanbic Bank, beginning with the beneficiaries in Wakiso, Kampala, Mutundwe and Njeru,†he added.
The World Bank provided $40m (sh64.8b) for the construction of two transmission lines, and another $20m (sh32.4b) for compensation. The Government provided the rest of the funds to pay the residents.
“Beneficiaries with bank accounts will be paid using the Electronic Transfer System, while those without accounts will be given bank drafts. Some people would have been paid by today (Tuesday) but there were some delays in the bank,†Makuba explained.
He said payment would be effected immediately the beneficiaries agreed with the amount valued for their property.
“In case anyone is not comfortable with the valuation of their property, we have set up a grievance settlement committee that they can complain to,†he added.
Mapping of the areas through which the power line would move was done in 2005 and the National Environment Management Authority approved the environment impact assessment for the project.
Construction of the lines is expected to last about two years,until 2011. The multi-billion dollar project is expected to provide electricity at lower power tariffs.
THE compensation of over 2,600 people whose property was affected by the construction of the 250 Megawatt Bujagali power line has kicked off. The lines include the 13km Bujagali-Jinja network and the 80km Bujagali-Kampala-Kawanda grid.
According to Dennis Makuba, the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company manager in charge of the Bujagali project, sh34b had been earmarked for compensation and resettlement of the affected people.
“The money will be paid through Stanbic Bank, beginning with the beneficiaries in Wakiso, Kampala, Mutundwe and Njeru,†he added.
The World Bank provided $40m (sh64.8b) for the construction of two transmission lines, and another $20m (sh32.4b) for compensation. The Government provided the rest of the funds to pay the residents.
“Beneficiaries with bank accounts will be paid using the Electronic Transfer System, while those without accounts will be given bank drafts. Some people would have been paid by today (Tuesday) but there were some delays in the bank,†Makuba explained.
He said payment would be effected immediately the beneficiaries agreed with the amount valued for their property.
“In case anyone is not comfortable with the valuation of their property, we have set up a grievance settlement committee that they can complain to,†he added.
Mapping of the areas through which the power line would move was done in 2005 and the National Environment Management Authority approved the environment impact assessment for the project.
Construction of the lines is expected to last about two years,until 2011. The multi-billion dollar project is expected to provide electricity at lower power tariffs.