Tororo-Busia road works stall due to delayed compensation of PAPs

Tororo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Works have failed to kick off on the 25-kilometer Tororo-Busia road because of the delayed compensation of Project Affected Persons-PAPs. The over Shillings 136 billion project was scheduled to kick off early last month.

The Project Affected Persons-PAPs, say that they cannot allow the project to commence without receiving compensation for their land and property. Steven Echiria, a resident of Osukuru village in Tororo district, says that the government has not even come on the ground to access their properties destroyed by the contractor.

He wants the Uganda National Roads Authority-UNRA to give them the actual measurements of the affected land before any construction can take place.

Wilson Obukoto, another PAP says that the contractor encroached on his land without his consent. He doubts if they will be compensated if the road works start without any commitment from the government.

Walter Uryek Wun and Adikini Kirumi, both affected residents say that they want UNRA to sign commitment letters before they can allow the work to commence.

Allan Ssempebwa, the UNRA communication officer said that government is yet to take stock of the project-affected persons. He said that the chief government valuer will be on the ground starting next week to approve the people who are due for compensation, adding that the road works will not commence unless the PAPs are compensated.

He said UNRA conducted an assessment and submitted a list to the government chief valuer, whose report they are waiting for. UNRA contracted China Railway 18 Company to undertake the works on the 25-kilometer road at Shillings 138billion. The road stretches from Tororo town to Busia district. The project is expected to last for 24 months.

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