Jude Ssali, the Chairperson for Kakuuto sub county in Kyotera district, is facing accusations of mishandling the compensation process for Project Affected Persons (PAPs) linked to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. Numerous individuals slated to lose their properties due to the pipeline’s construction have alleged that Ssali’s actions during the property evaluation led to unjust compensation.
The PAPs argue that Ssali, who also serves as the local Project Liaisons Coordinator, failed to adequately represent their interests. They claim he misrepresented them to the project evaluation teams, resulting in inadequate compensation. During a meeting with a group of Opposition leaders in Parliament, the affected individuals expressed their frustration with the treatment they have received during the pipeline project’s implementation.
John Bosco Jjemba, one of the project-affected individuals, accuses Ssali of pressuring them to accept insufficient compensation and suppressing dissenting voices. Many PAPs, he alleges, were coerced into signing compensation forms without the chance to seek clarification or guidance on the content.
Mustapha Kavuma, another affected person and a member of the Grievance Management Committee, claimed that his attempts to raise concerns about his compensation were thwarted by the project liaison coordinator. He argues that while some PAPs signed consent forms and resettlement action plans to receive compensation, most are dissatisfied with the rates they were allocated.
Florence Namutebi and Flavia Nazziwa, Lukoma Village residents, also blame the Project Liaisons Coordinator for hindering the resolution of their concerns before the Grievance Handling Committee. Namutebi was compensated with Shillings 5 million for her 0.5-acre banana plantation, but the funds are inadequate for resettling her family. Additionally, some PAPs argue that the pipeline demarcations have expanded without their consent, going beyond the initially agreed boundaries.
In response, Jude Ssali, the Chairperson of Kakuuto sub-county, denied the allegations made by the project-affected persons and accused some claimants of being overly ambitious and dishonest during the evaluation process. He stated that many of the affected individuals underwent reevaluation of their properties but remained uncooperative, potentially hindering the project’s progress.
Meanwhile, Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, has indicated that they are considering a special investigation into the property evaluation process in the area to ensure fair treatment of affected persons.
