Police deploys to guard road constructor in Pabbo township

Amuru, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police have deployed in Pabbo township in Amuru district to guard a road contractor following uproar for compensation by residents.

It comes a day after Amuru Resident District Commissioner-RDC, Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, Chief Administrative Officer-CAO Thomson Obong, Town Clerk Lilly Laker and LC 3 chairperson, Christopher Odongkara handed over the site to the contractor, Jefflen Industrial Solutions Ltd.

Only a handful of residents affected by the project participated in the exercise. A few minutes after the departure of the officials, furious residents attempted to block the road works until they are compensated.

Paul Ojok, one of the affected property owners complained that up to six meters of his only plot on which his family lives have been affected by the road.

Pastor Jacob Otim, another affected resident wondered why the road project is being hurried without the authorities resolving the issues compensating the affected households. He wondered why other districts compensate people affected by such road projects and not Amuru.

Christine Aciro also argues that the authorities must be considerate with the road project which has greatly affected several families as it encroaches on their land.

Geoffrey Wavamuno, a site engineer with Jefflen Industrial Solutions Ltd appealed to the affected residents to harmonize their grievances with the respective offices at the district to allow work to go on as planned, saying that they have already lost time.

Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, the Amuru RDC confirmed that they decided to deploy police officers to protect the engineering team and their equipment to avert a possible attacks by residents. He asked the contractor to deliver on the project as expected, saying that they will not tolerate shoddy work.

The project road is funded by the Uganda Road Fund – URF at a tune of Shillings 670 million. It is meant to link up to the proposed satellite market to be constructed on a 5-acre piece of land in Luzira ward in Pabbo.

A community engagement held by the district leaders convened by Michael Lakony, the LC 5 chairperson last week resolved to display a valuation report by the government about the compensation rates due but the residents argue they have never seen it.

Lakony explained that the affected landowners who bought their plots before 2011 and constructed properties like houses and planted trees, the time when Pabbo town council resolved and approved the planned road in the area will be duly compensated.

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