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SGR PAPs Concerned About Inconsistent Compensation Rates

Sylvia Namwase says that their initial compensation was 135 Million Shillings, however, 35 Million Shillings was deposited into their family account.
14 Jan 2025 16:12
Faridah Namukubembe, a resident of Wanyange cell, in Northern division, in Jinja city points to the grave of her late three year old daughter.

Audio 6

Standard Gauge Railway-SGR Project Affected Persons-PAPs in Wanyange cell, in the Northern division, Jinja city have raised concerns over inconsistencies in the compensation rates.

They say that their property was first valued in 2016 and fresh evaluations were conducted in 2021, however, the compensation figures recorded on their payment slips are different from the amounts being deposited in their bank accounts. 

Sylvia Namwase says that their initial compensation was 135 Million Shillings, however, 35 Million Shillings was deposited into their family account.

Namwase says that they own two houses and a garden on a one-acre piece of land but they were shocked to receive inadequate funds.

//cue in: "Abasadha batuwasa abakazi...

Cue out...iffe wano, batuyambe,".

Faridah Namukubembe says that the initial compensation slip indicated 200 Million Shillings for the compensation of two houses, five fruit trees, graveyards and two pit latrines, however, the final payment was 86 Million Shillings. 

//cue in: "eitaka elyange...

Cue out...government etuyambe,".

Resty Naigaga says that she owns a 30 by 100 plot, a two-bedroomed house, an outside kitchen, two stanza pit latrines and seven fruit trees, but she was compensated with 17 Million Shillings, despite filing a complaint, with SGR.

Naigaga, a single mother says that the money is inefficient to afford her a plot of land in the outskirts of Jinja city and she is currently stuck on how to survive with her young family. 

//cue in: "niffe abalala kwabo...

Cue out...n'naku namaziga,".

Michael Wanyama says that the initial evaluation report awarded her 18 Million Shillings in exchange for a 30Ă—100 plot, two houses, graveyards, food crops and two stanza pit latrines, which he protested, resulting in fresh evaluations where he was given an additional 150 Million Shillings. 

Wanyama however, says that only 18 Million Shillings have been remitted to his bank account. 

//cue in: "nze ba'nkoba...

Cue out...mu'nsonga eno,".

James Nyende, the chairperson of the 29 aggrieved PAPs in the Wanyange cell, says that they filed official complaints with the Ministry of Works last year to solve the abnormalities before payment. 

Nyende says that a delegation from the works ministry led by the permanent secretary, Bageya Waiswa and SGR's project coordinator, Perez Wamburu held a public hearing in Wanyange cell. He adds that a fresh evaluation of the PAPs was conducted and new rates were developed, however, to date, some of them are yet to receive their compensation, while others have been underpaid. 

//cue in: "project eno baidha... 

Cue out...okutolaku okutubuza buza,".

Meanwhile, Jinja City Resident Commissioner, Richard Gulume who serves as the PAPs' grievance committee chairperson, says that responsible departments are handling all the complaints and compensation shall be accorded to the rightful beneficiaries. 

Gulume says that some PAPs are falling prey to misinformation by self-seekers, he however asked them to exercise patience as they closely follow through with their complaints, which are being fast-tracked.

Gulume further reveals that the property of the PAPs was lying in both the meter gauge railway-MGR and SGR pathways respectively, leading to under evaluation.

//cue in: "The only grey...

Cue out...in that area,".

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