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Sinohydro compensates sexual abuse victims in Karuma Dam Project

Construction of Karuma dam started in 2013. By the end of 2024, it would have been constructed for over 10 years. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, the firm that built the Karuma Dam, has awarded $196,000 (Shs718.7 million) to three of the affected districts to support the victims. The districts are Kiryandongo, Oyam, and Nwoya.

Like many other projects before it, the construction of the Karuma Dam was riddled with reports of sexual abuse. President Museveni commissioned the $1.7 billion (Shs6.2 trillion) 600MW Karuma Dam in September 2024, ten years after its construction began.

Since 2014, when the works began, several women from the communities where the project is based claimed they were sexually abused by the project workers. Leaders in the affected districts also revealed that some of the women gave birth to mixed-race children.

It is against this background that Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, the firm that built the Karuma Dam, has awarded $196,000 (Shs718.7 million) to three of the affected districts to support the victims. The districts are Kiryandongo, Oyam, and Nwoya.

According to records that Monitor has seen, this is part of the company’s Orphanage Fund Support Programme.

Hopeful

Mr Washington Ochaya, the district councillor for Karuma Town Council, confirmed the development, stating that they have identified and documented 14 mixed-race children and their mothers within the town council who are eligible for the fund.

“Some of these women and children are spread outside the town council, and we are mapping more so that they can benefit from the fund. We are also following up with the district to ensure that the funding is not diverted,” Mr Ochaya said.

Ms Edith Aliguma Adyeri, the Kiryandongo District chairperson, said they have received the money, which will help support some orphans in accessing education. She, however, said they are awaiting further instructions from the government on how to proceed.

Planning

“We have the technical planning committee of the district and town council, and also leaders on the ground who are mapping these women. We are sure that the right criteria are followed to ensure that these women are supported with this fund,” Ms Aliguma said.

Mr Kou Zhibin, the Sinohydro Corporation Ltd’s Commercial Manager, said it was the first time the firm was supporting the victims who suffered sexual abuse during the dam’s construction.

“For the orphanage fund, we have given each district $66,600 (Shs244.2 million). This is the first time we are providing the orphanage fund,” Mr Zhibin said.

He added that the company, together with Uganda Electricity Generation Co. Ltd, had previously offered scholarships to the best-performing female students in the project area as a gesture to support girl-child education.