Tororo: Local authorities in Tororo district, including District Vice Chairperson Hon. Rebbeca Akumu, Chief Administrative Officer, Town clerk Tororo, and district technocrats, convened on Monday for discussions with a team from the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to assess the progress of the railway project, which is actively affecting over 1,810 individuals in the area and many more across the country.
In a stakeholders meeting held at the District Council Chambers and attended by a team from the Ministry of Works and Transport, SGR officials provided insights into the project’s advancement, particularly regarding compensation payments. They revealed that 1,750 individuals in Tororo district have been successfully compensated, while 60 people are still awaiting compensation.
The government of Uganda has allocated over UGX 535 billion for compensating those affected by the project nationwide, as confirmed by Mr. Albert Amula, the Tororo Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC), who assured the availability of funds for compensating the victims. The meeting also aimed at providing financial literacy, safeguarding the SGR corridors against encroachments, and seeking legal guidance from the solicitor general on the beneficiaries of compensation in the Kasoli housing estate where 60 individuals are yet to be paid.
Mr. Amula urged stakeholders to prioritize expediting the payments for Project Affected Persons to prevent land encroachments. Additionally, this would enable the government to plan effectively for service delivery in affected areas, particularly schools and health centers.
“Our focus should be on fast-tracking the payments of Project Affected Persons to prevent land encroachments and to enable the government to plan better for service delivery in the affected entities, especially schools and health centers,” Mr. Amula emphasized.
Rebecca Akumu, the district vice-chairperson, requested the SGR team and the government valuer to reassess the Project Affected Persons due to the extended period of time they have waited for compensation.
