Residents accept compensation for construction of power project

Kamuli.
Residents of Kisozi Sub-county in Kamuli District have agreed to compensation terms for their land, paving way for the construction of Isimba Hydro Power Project.

Last year, the governments of Uganda and China signed a memorandum of understanding to construct the 188 Megawatts hydro-power dam. But the start of the project has been dogged by residents’ compensation demands.
However, on Wednesday, the residents signed the compensation forms, agreeing in principle to allow the government to use their land for the power project.

Residents speak out
Most of the beneficiaries who talked to the Daily Monitor described the exercise as transparent.
Ms Sylvia Namabiro, 78, a resident of Bulamuka zone who received Shs6.9 million for her land on which she grows sugarcane, expressed joy, urging the other beneficiaries not to squander the money.

“The amount I have received is a blessing because I would have been cheated by buyers of my sugarcanes. Last time they brought me only Shs2 million and now the government is giving me three times the amount,” Ms Namabiro said.

The sub-county chairperson, Mr Moses Kyonda, also commended the compensation process and thanked the residents for the goodwill.
The RDC, Mr Herman Ssentongo, who monitored the exercise, urged residents to take advantage of the power project and the jobs that will be created to develop.

He tasked them to set up economic activities and ask for social services from contractors under the corporate social responsibility function.
The RDC also asked those with compensation grievances to channel them to the Grievances Management Committee. It is also expected that Izimba Primary school will be constructed as part of the compensation.

THE BACKGROUND
The 188-megawatts hydro-power dam is expected to cost $500 million (about Shs1.3 trillion).
The project, expected to be ready in 34 months, will have an average of 6.8KWH electricity tariffs, the lowest in the region.