Mbale residents protest poor land compensation
Jan 04, 2009
RESIDENTS of Nkoma in Mbale municipality last week protested what they called poor compensation by the Government.
By Daniel Edyegu
RESIDENTS of Nkoma in Mbale municipality last week protested what they called poor compensation by the Government.
In a peaceful demonstration, the residents said they offered 218 acres of land to the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) years ago, on the understanding that they would be adequately compensated.
They said, they were instead being given pea-nuts.
The residents said the university secretary, Waswa Masokoyi, was paying out as little as sh28,000 to some beneficiaries.
“The constitution stipulates that land belongs to the people. We are not refusing to vacate but the Government must adequately compensate us to enable us buy land elsewhere,†Muhammed Balemya, a protester, said.
He said the university had given them six months to vacate or be evicted.
“I have lived on this land since 1978. I take care of eight grand-children. I was paid only sh850,000 for one acre. Where will I get land at that price to resettle?†said Rashid Nuru, a 68-year-old woman.
When asked to comment on the matter, Masokoyi referred The New Vision to Jacob Oboth, the chairperson of the compensation committee.
Oboth’s phone, however, was switched off.
Tidala Oludala, the area LC3 councillor, said over 1,000 residents would be rendered landless if the university effected the eviction without addressing their needs.
However, the Mbale deputy resident district commissioner, Henry Nalyanya, who is also a member of the compensation committee, said all the 197 families received partial compensation in 1996.
“The ministry is clearing the balances. It is a done deal and there is an agreement signed to that effect. The discontent is arising because the compensation was done basing on the market value of land then,†said Nalyanya.
“What they can do is to negotiate better terms with the Government, but not to resist the order to move out.â€
RESIDENTS of Nkoma in Mbale municipality last week protested what they called poor compensation by the Government.
In a peaceful demonstration, the residents said they offered 218 acres of land to the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) years ago, on the understanding that they would be adequately compensated.
They said, they were instead being given pea-nuts.
The residents said the university secretary, Waswa Masokoyi, was paying out as little as sh28,000 to some beneficiaries.
“The constitution stipulates that land belongs to the people. We are not refusing to vacate but the Government must adequately compensate us to enable us buy land elsewhere,†Muhammed Balemya, a protester, said.
He said the university had given them six months to vacate or be evicted.
“I have lived on this land since 1978. I take care of eight grand-children. I was paid only sh850,000 for one acre. Where will I get land at that price to resettle?†said Rashid Nuru, a 68-year-old woman.
When asked to comment on the matter, Masokoyi referred The New Vision to Jacob Oboth, the chairperson of the compensation committee.
Oboth’s phone, however, was switched off.
Tidala Oludala, the area LC3 councillor, said over 1,000 residents would be rendered landless if the university effected the eviction without addressing their needs.
However, the Mbale deputy resident district commissioner, Henry Nalyanya, who is also a member of the compensation committee, said all the 197 families received partial compensation in 1996.
“The ministry is clearing the balances. It is a done deal and there is an agreement signed to that effect. The discontent is arising because the compensation was done basing on the market value of land then,†said Nalyanya.
“What they can do is to negotiate better terms with the Government, but not to resist the order to move out.â€