Over 85 residents from eight villages in Angagura Subcounty accuse the power distribution company of delaying to compensate them for properties damaged while erecting electricity transmission poles on their land.
Residents of Angagura Sub-county, Pader District are demanding
compensation from Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited-UEGCL.
More than 85 residents from eight villages in the area accuse the
power distribution company of delaying to compensate them for properties
damaged while erecting electricity transmission poles on their land.
The electricity lines are being erected from Aswa Hydro Power
Station, one of the proposed five power stations government is constructing
along Aswa River in Pader District.
Power generated from the power station is expected to be evacuated
via the Lira-Gulu-Agago High Voltage power line, a 132Kv High Voltage
transmission line to a substation in Lira District.
Francis Ojara a resident of Deng A village says that poles were
erected on part of his land but has never been paid.
The affected villages are Lacede, Deng A, Deng B, Libi, Lee-oyika, Bur-lobo,
Laboto and Lalem in Bur-lobo Parish.
Ojara says he lost 60 varieties of tree species that include mango
trees, shea nut trees among others which used to help him generate income for
his family.
He says initially UEGCL officials promised to compensate people
whose property was destroyed.
“I believe the trees destroyed on my land can cost about 7 million shillings.
The trees used to help me because my family harvest mango fruits and shea nut
butter from them, but now it’s no more, we demand to be paid for the loss”
Joseph Abola, another affected resident says he lost part of his
groundnuts and 30 eucalyptus trees that were destroyed to pave way for erection
of electricity poles. Abola says he is now stranded on what to do
alleging that because UEGCL officials have voluntarily refused to update
affected locals on their next course of action.
“UEGCL officials don’t want to talk to us, they are instead only
interacting with the local leaders who don’t feel the plight of those
affected,” He said.
Dickson Okello, the Angagura LCV Councillor says so far 15 kilometres
stretch of land from Aswa Hydro Power Station Dam were electricity lines
started being erected up to Angagura Sub-county Headquarters have been destroyed.
// Cue in: “It has taken us five…..
Cue Out:…. for their payment,” //
John Israel Mukasa, the UEGCL regional manager, however, says the
delayed compensation is because government valuers haven’t released the valuation
report. He says that once that the valuation is conducted, the project affected
persons will be compensated.
Geoffrey Largo, the LCV Chairperson Pader wants UEGCL to halt
activities until the compensation woes are resolved.
