The Ndorwa County West Member of Parliament has promised to help hundreds of constituents who lost land and businesses during the reconstruction of the Mbarara – Katuna road in Kabale district receive their overdue compensation.
According to the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), over 5,163 people were affected by road reconstruction.
Those affected recently resumed their quest for delayed pay after learning that their counterparts from Mbarara district, who also lost their land over the same issue have already received their compensation.
Rugoora Katarinyeba, a resident of Kitumba sub-county Kabale district, told Watchdog Uganda that for seven years, he has been patiently waiting for the promised pay because his house was destroyed but UNRA has been quite for so long.
He said he has no idea regarding how much he will be compensated or when and where the funds will be distributed.
“UNRA had at first tried to deny us compensation before we petitioned the high court in 2013. During the case, UNRA was defeated and was ordered to compensate every victim,” he said.
Tinka Chris, another resident of Ndorwa west Kabale district, said they shall not stop demanding for their money until they are compensated, saying UNRA used their lands without any consultation.
Now area MP David Bahati, who is also the Junior Minister of Finance has agreed to handle the matter.
Hon Bahati is set to meet the aggrieved people before taking the next step, Watchdog Uganda has learnt.
The 125-kilometer road was built through a grant from the European Union.
Reconstruction was divided in two sections – building of the Mbarara-Ntungamo Road and rebuilding the Ntungamo-Kabale-Katuna highway.
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