Isoke intervenes in Bujagali land row

Dec 22, 2004

THE lands state minister has intervened in a wrangle in which over 100 residents displaced by the Bujagali dam power project were not paid for their land.

By Nicholas Kajoba

THE lands state minister has intervened in a wrangle in which over 100 residents displaced by the Bujagali dam power project were not paid for their land.

Baguma Isoke’s intervention follows a petition by residents of Naminya, Wakisi sub-county in Mukono district.

The residents met Isoke at Naminya Primary School on Tuesday.

Wakisi sub-county chairman Apollo Massa said the residents were displaced following a proposal by the government to construct a dam at Bujagali.

Over 200 people were displaced but some were compensated by the AES Company that was contracted by the government to build the dam.

The area MP, Wagonda Muguli, said the government had failed to compensate the residents for over three years.

He said most of the promises made in the contract were not fulfiled.

Massa said they had a contract with the government through AES Company, which agreed to get land and build houses for them at Namiryango village before they were evicted.

“We reached a consensus with AES Company and they agreed to get us land and titles before we surrendered our land for the Bujagali project.

They also said they would build schools and dispensaries for us but they have failed to do any of them,” he said.

AES wound up and left the country following the World Bank withdrawal to fund the project.

But the government took over the assets and liabilities of the company.

Residents said they were staying on land without titles.

Isoke told the residents to draft a letter to his ministry for the government to intervene.

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