Residents threaten road works
Jul 14, 2009
THE expansion of the Kampala-Mbarara road is under threat after Lyantonde town residents vowed to block it, saying they were not compensated by the Government.
By Mikaili Sseppuya
THE expansion of the Kampala-Mbarara road is under threat after Lyantonde town residents vowed to block it, saying they were not compensated by the Government.
One resident, Badru Serukugoba, claimed he had a land title for five acres of land that include part of the road expansion project. “I have my title for Block 76, including the part for the road expansion,†he said.
He, however, did not show the title, saying he had not known it would be needed. This was during a recent meeting at Lyantonde Town Council organised by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to consult the residents, who had objected to the road expansion plan before being compensated.
The Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara road is being repaired and expanded by Reynolds Construction Company. The road works were nearly stopped due to the resistance from the residents.
The chief government valuer had, however, said the expansion would only be done in the road reserve owned by the Government. Some of the residents, however, claimed they had not been compensated in the 1970s when their land was taken over because of the nature of the former President Idi Amin’s decrees.
They also wanted to be compensated for their developments on the land. Dan Alinange, the UNRA spokesperson, said the roads authority does not steal people’s land, adding that there was no need for compensation because the road would be expanded using land owned by the Government.
He, however, said although the road reserve extended 15 metres from the road centre, some residents could be given money to shift from their properties if UNRA thought they were close and could be negatively affected by the works.
Elia Sewandigi, the town mayor, had earlier said residents were accusing him and the town clerk of embezzling money UNRA had sent to compensate them, adding that they also wanted to know the extent of the road expansion.
THE expansion of the Kampala-Mbarara road is under threat after Lyantonde town residents vowed to block it, saying they were not compensated by the Government.
One resident, Badru Serukugoba, claimed he had a land title for five acres of land that include part of the road expansion project. “I have my title for Block 76, including the part for the road expansion,†he said.
He, however, did not show the title, saying he had not known it would be needed. This was during a recent meeting at Lyantonde Town Council organised by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to consult the residents, who had objected to the road expansion plan before being compensated.
The Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara road is being repaired and expanded by Reynolds Construction Company. The road works were nearly stopped due to the resistance from the residents.
The chief government valuer had, however, said the expansion would only be done in the road reserve owned by the Government. Some of the residents, however, claimed they had not been compensated in the 1970s when their land was taken over because of the nature of the former President Idi Amin’s decrees.
They also wanted to be compensated for their developments on the land. Dan Alinange, the UNRA spokesperson, said the roads authority does not steal people’s land, adding that there was no need for compensation because the road would be expanded using land owned by the Government.
He, however, said although the road reserve extended 15 metres from the road centre, some residents could be given money to shift from their properties if UNRA thought they were close and could be negatively affected by the works.
Elia Sewandigi, the town mayor, had earlier said residents were accusing him and the town clerk of embezzling money UNRA had sent to compensate them, adding that they also wanted to know the extent of the road expansion.