Total to Review Kyotera Compensation Rates

Total Uganda is considering revising the compensation rates for Kyotera district to match those of the neighboring districts of Rakai, Lwengo, and Sembabule.  This is according to Martin Tiffen, the General Manager- East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project- EACOP.

Tiffen says they agreed to consider revised rates of 2020/2021 which Kyotera District leaders presented to the Chief Government Valuer for approval.  He explains that they are only waiting for the Chief valuer’s endorsement of the revised rates to proceed with the plan. 

This follows constant protests over the discrepancies in the rates of crops and other items in Kyotera which has hampered the pipeline project.

Total Uganda contracted New Plan Ltd to do the mapping and the valuation of people’s crops, land, buildings, and other properties in the pipeline route in Kyotera.  But the company relied on the old rates of 2018-2019 to value the properties because the revised rates of 2020/2021 had not been approved by the government valuer.

This left the crops and other properties in Kyotera undervalued compared to those of the neighboring districts. For example, in Kyotera, a mature coffee tree was valued at 33,000 Shillings and the banana plant at 25,000 Shillings while in Lwengo a coffee tree was valued at 88,400 and 50,000 Shillings respectively.

The PAPs were compelled to boycott all the compensation processes including the Display of the Resettlement Action Plan, the opening of bank accounts.

On December 20, 2021, Civic Response on Environment and Development-CRED, the organization compiled and presented eleven concerns to Total seeking Tiffen’s urgent intervention. 

John Paul Mpalanyi, the Kyotera County Member of Parliament, says that although he welcomes revising the rates, there is a need for full commitment from Total to abide by the government Valuer approval of the revised rates. 

 //Cue in; “Equitability... 

Cue out: “…the issue.”

Richard Birimuye, who represents the PAPs in Nabigasa sub-county, says the information is exciting although it was more specific on the crops.  He says they have been complaining for over three years without a proper response from the district authorities.

//Cue in; “Ndi omu ku…

Cue out: “…basanyufu.”//

Florence Nankya of Luseese village explains that the crops on the Kyotera – Lwengo border were poorly valued and there was a discrepancy in the compensation rates. She says that they have been pressing for fair compensation for three years and she hopes EACOP will look not only on the coffee and bananas but all crops and trees on their land.

//Cue in; “Kiba kituwa…

Cue out:……jabalibwa bubi.”//

In Uganda, the 296km-long pipeline is set to pass through Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Mubende, Kyankwanzi, Gomba, Sembabule, Lwengo, Kyotera, and Rakai. At least 22 sub-counties and 172 villages are affected by the project.