Compensation cost for Entebbe Expressway escalates

By Pascal Kwesiga

THE Government is likely to spend over sh250b in compensation to land lords along Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, almost two times more than sh100b which had been estimated for the exercise.

This was revealed by Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) officials to a tribunal probing supposed fraud in the roads authority during an inspection tour to the project sites on Thursday.

The team, comprised of the tribunal chairperson, Justice Catherine Bamugemereire and commissioners – Ben Okello Luwum, Abraham Nkata, Eng. Patrick Rusongoza and Richard Mungati was also briefed about the project's progress.

The commission, which also included the tribunal's lead counsel, Andrew Kasirye and his assistant Mary Kutesa started their tour at Busega, a Kampala suburb, where the Entebbe expressway starts.

Compensation to landlords along the Kampala-Entebbe expressway could rise to sh250b. Photo by Godiver Asege

They wound up their tour at Mpala in Wakiso district where the new road will join the existing Kampala-Entebbe highway.

"Our mandate is to investigate complaints and alleged corruption activities. We will look at the compensation value and other relevant issues, Kasirye said.

UNRA officials said the course of the road has been changed in some areas, and that the value of land in the affected areas is high.

UNRA's project manager, Chris Manyindo, confirmed in a telephone interview that the compensation awards to land lords will amount to over sh100b.

He could not provide the number of the affected persons, saying the evaluation exercise is still underway.