Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament is urging Parliament to look into the alleged fraud concerning the valuation and compensation of individuals affected by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project (EACOP) in Kyotera district.
Accompanied by opposition MPs, Mpuuga met with hundreds of compensation claimants in Bigada, Kyotera district, on Sunday.
Mpuuga assured the locals that he will bring this matter to the attention of Parliament.
"I will request the Committee for National Resources to address the petitions of these locals and provide them with a fair hearing that may lead to justice," he said.
He claimed that the project could further impoverish the locals, as many have lost their land.
"They can no longer cultivate food to the same extent as before, and the compensation they received cannot replace the lost land.This is a significant issue," he explained.
Mpuuga emphasised the importance of determining the true value of the land in the area before compensating individuals for the land they have lost.
Last week, the claimants lodged a formal complaint with the Leader of Opposition, accusing EACOP of undervaluing their properties and crops.
During the meeting, some claimants revealed that they had been forced to sign agreements relinquishing their land.
Earlier this year, numerous families affected by the EACOP in Kyotera district protested against the compensation rates provided through a second evaluation exercise of their properties.
These families, residing in Lukoma village, Kakuuko sub-county, expressed concerns about the potential loss of their properties, including land, plantations, and houses during the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline.
The affected locals stated that the EACOP evaluation teams have yet to offer them fair compensation fees for the properties that will be lost as a result of the project.
Despite a 34% increase in compensation rates following the reevaluation exercise, the affected locals remain dissatisfied and unwilling to surrender their properties.
One individual, set to lose approximately 2.7 acres of land hosting coffee and banana plantations, as well as mango and jackfruit trees, is demanding fair compensation for their anticipated future loss.
