Entebbe leaders , Minister Kyofatogabye disagree on compensation as govt earmarks shs104bn for infrastructure devt
Leaders and various land owners in Entebbe municipality are involved in a bitter fight over the directive issued by the Minister of state for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Kabuye Kyofatogabye of no compensation during an upcoming project.
Kyofatogabye made the directive during his engagement with leaders in Entebbe where he revealed that government has earmarked shs104 billion to tarmac 15 kms of feeder roads, build work spaces and markets in Entebbe Municipality.
Keep Reading
He said those affected will not be compensated.
However, this sparked off a fight between the leaders and land owners decrying the decision by the government not compensate them during the ongoing projects.
According to Margaret Namakula , a female counselor representing Kiwafu II, Division A in Entebbe Municipality, it is unfair for the government to use someone’s land without compensation yet in other projects; the government compensates.
“For example, I have been on my land for many years, I have done projects on it; how do you come and take it for free," Namakula asked.
“I am in fear because these have not come on ground to speak to the people about the matter, how will they come in this shortest period to tell people that we are taking part of your land”
This is part of the five-year Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP)
Counselor Katabi ward, Innocent Ssewankambo also noted that unless the contractors will not temper with people’s land but the government needs to know that people should benefit from their properties including land.
During the engagement, Kyofatogabye said, “The area leaders have been engaging land owners to have consent over the land and we have been fully notified that locals have issues with compensation. however, we would love to appeal to the locals freely work with us in the development project that will benefit all of us”.
“If we go on the burden of compensating of land owners, a lot of money will be spent Unlike before, we want our people now to also participate in the development through giving out their land to the government” he said.
“The first phase will last for five years under the master plan of the entire (GKMA-UDP) and that’s why we are engaging leaders. As the Ministry, we shall help the municipalities in advertising the projects for contracts, supervise and monitor the projects”
“We expect to work on five roads and other projects including Kitooro road, Kigungu road, Namulanda, central market among others,”Kyofatogabye emphasized.
The five-year Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP) will be funded through a loan acquired from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group $600 worth shs 2.7 trillion.
