Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has called on the Ministry of Energy to urgently request a supplementary budget to resettle and compensate the 119 people displaced by the Karuma Hydro Power project.
The delay in compensating the affected persons, initially planned for 2012, has left vulnerable groups in distress, prompting Tayebwa to push for immediate government action.
In a recent parliamentary session, Deputy Speaker Tayebwa emphasized the urgency of resettling Project Affected Persons (PAPs) displaced by the Karuma Hydro Power project.
Tayebwa’s advice to Minister of State for Energy, Phiona Nyamutoro, followed a 12-year delay in implementing the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), leaving displaced individuals especially widows, the elderly, and persons with disabilities struggling without adequate compensation or proper relocation.
“Present a case to Cabinet, and we will support a supplementary budget. These people have suffered for too long,” Tayebwa said, urging swift action rather than waiting for the next financial year. He stressed that Parliament has approved several supplementary budgets, and one aimed at helping PAPs would not be rejected.
Minister Nyamutoro acknowledged the delays, stating that the ministry is working with local authorities and the National Environment Management Authority to accelerate approvals for constructing resettlement homes. Despite acquiring land for relocation, many displaced people remain in limbo, worried about losing their land rights and livelihoods.
The delays in the RAP have sparked frustration, particularly as vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected. A report from the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources revealed significant shortcomings in the compensation process, including unfair or inadequate payouts, which have exacerbated the hardships faced by those displaced.
Tayebwa’s call for a supplementary budget reflects a growing consensus that the government must act swiftly to resolve this long-standing issue and ensure that those affected by the Karuma Hydro Power project receive fair compensation and secure resettlement.
