More than 90 families who opted to be resettled from 29-square kilometre
land earmarked for the oil refinery in Hoima District, have rejected
government’s offer. photo | file
Hoima. More than 90 families
who opted to be resettled from 29-square kilometre land earmarked for
the oil refinery in Hoima District, have rejected government’s offer and
petitioned President Museveni for intervention.
The
chairman of the Refinery Affected Persons Relocation Committee, Mr
Richard Orebi, on Thursday told Saturday Monitor that the families have
twice inspected the land the government purchased for them and it is not
suitable for settlement. In the petition the families say: “Medical
services are very distant, our children are not going to school, our
neighbourhood is bushy and a threat to our safety and security” “Your
Excellency, recent communication from the Ministry of Energy indicates
that 46 households will be given land and a house, while the remaining
47 households will only get land. We feel this is unfair and request
that we all be treated equally as promised,” the petition further reads.
They have rejected the offer by ministries of Energy and Lands of a
self-contained house on the resettlement village. They instead want a
house plan with three bed rooms, outside kitchen and toilet. Ms Winfred
Ngabiirwe, the executive director of Global Rights Alert (GRA), an NGO
supporting rights of refinery affected communities, has asked government
to give a clear schedule for the resettlement process to stop anxiety
among the affected families.
“We recommend to
government to fast track the resettlement process, expedite cash
compensation of valued properties on land as project affected persons
await relocation and stop advising against cultivation of perennial
crops since the exact date of resettlement remains uncertain,” said Ms
Ngabiirwe. Compensation clarification. The Minister for the Presidency,
Mr Frank Tumwebaze, said he had not seen the petition but advised the
petitioners to follow up with the Ministry of Energy. The refinery
communication officer, Mr Bashir Hangi, said government has procured 533
acres in Kyakabooga village where the families will be resettled. He
added that government is only providing houses to the affected persons
who had houses on their land.
“We have procured a
contractor who will build resettlement houses. The community should be
calm because all their grievances are being handled,” Mr Hangi said.(NMG)
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