Buliisa residents turn down ‘meagre’ government compensation

BULIISA. Residents of the oil-rich district of Buliisa have rejected government’s proposed compensation for their land to pave way for the Central Processing facility (CPF) project.
Government released a programme for relocation and resettlement of the affected people but the residents say the government compensation rates are too low for their land.
Government, Total E&P Uganda and Tullow Uganda operations Pty Ltd have completed assessing properties for the project affected persons (PAPs) in the villages of Kasenyi, Kisomere, Uduk II, Kibambura, Mvule, Ajigo, Kirama, Kigwera north East, Kigwera south East and Bikongoro.
The land, measuring about 310 hectares, will host a CPF, access road and a base camp during petroleum development activities, according to the Resettlement Action Plan.
The Ngwedo Sub-county chairperson, Mr Gilbert Kaliisa, says the affected residents claim the compensation rates which government plans to use to pay them are inadequate.
“The residents have insisted that the Shs2.1m which government intends to pay for each acre of land is low and instead want Shs21m per acre,” Mr Kaliisa said.
He said while the Shs2.1m is meant for permanent acquisition of each acre of land, oil companies have previously paid them an annual rent of more than Shs4m per acre per year.
According to the Resettlement Planning Committee chairperson, Mr Gerald Mulimba, more than 800 PAPs have unanimously rejected the compensation rates for the land, crops and structures.
“We have instead unanimously demanded that each acre be compensated at Shs21m,” Mr Mulimba said.
He said they are not opposed to oil developments but they want monetary compensations that will enable them have improved livelihoods.
“We need adequate compensation because we still wanted our land. It is government that wants it to host oil developments for more than 30 years without giving us an option of reclaiming it after the oil is exhausted,” Mulimba added.
Mr Allan Kalangi, a sustainability school manager at the National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE), an oil and environmental advocacy non-governmental organisation, said government and oil companies should implement compensation and resettlement packages that will uplift the welfare of the affected families.
The Buliisa District senior lands officer, Mr Benald Tugume, said the district has accordingly notified the chief government valuer about the residents’ concerns.

Government rates
However, Mr Dennis Obbo, the Ministry of Lands spokesperson, said the chief government valuer approved Shs2.1m as compensation for each acre as recommended by private consultants that were contracted by Total E&P Uganda to value properties in the area.
“Much as Shs2.1m was high, we went ahead to approve it. Surprisingly, we have learnt that PAPs claim it is too little. They may find it hard to justify their basis of demanding for Shs21m,” Mr Obbo said.
He asked local leaders to sensitise the people and manage their expectations in a manner that will support government programmes in the area.
According to Buliisa District compensation rates for the Financial Year 2017/2018, a mature Alore vera plant is valued at Shs1,100, an acre of mature sweet potatoes is valued at Shs750,000, a mature pawpaw is valued at Shs60,200, and a mature local mango at Shs386,100.