Energy minister grilled over stalled Karuma compensation

Legislators on Tuesday morning October 10, 2023, grilled energy ministry officials over the delays in the compensation of 119 Project affected persons (PAP) occupying 465 hectares of land.

The committee of environmental and natural resources was inquiring into the land that was acquired by government to construct the yet-to-be-commissioned 600MW Karuma hydropower project by Sino hydro, a Chinese state company.

Led by the state minister for energy Okaasai Opolot, they said the nature of land laws need to be changed to allow government projects to proceed in the future.

The committee chair and West Budama south MP, Emmanuel Otaala wondered if the delay in compensation would lead to the overall rise in the cost of the dam.

A cross section of the natural resources committee of parliament interact with the energy ministry at parliament on October 4, 2023./Photo by Maria Wamala

"Is the total cost of the dam going to rise up, do you have a rough estimate of how much increase we shall incur,?" Otaala asked.

In response, Eng Emmanuel Nsubuga the principal energy officer and coordinator of the 600MW Karuma project, ministry of energy and mineral development said the cost of Karuma dam will increase.

"We are planning to give out this land in lots," Nsubuga said.

According to Nsubuga 200acres were acquired in Nwoya district that cost the government sh975m were those who accepted among the 119 will be given houses that will be fenced from the National gamepark.

"We had to get places that were culturally accepted by the locals," Nsubuga added.

Kyankwanzi woman MP Christine Bukenya believes the energy officials never took time to plan for the project.

"We recall how we used to deal with the PAPs people in the East African crude oil pipeline (EACOP) Bill it was planned from the beginning now his telling us that after 9 to 10 years that they are planning to compensate. Which means that the total amount of cost for Karuma will go higher,"

MPs on the natural resources committee of parliament interact with the energy ministry at parliament on October 4, 2023./Photo by Maria Wamala

Energy officials face sanctions

Otaala advocated for a very strong recommendation after realising that the energy officials delayed compensating locals for close to 10 years in what he described as a lack of humanity for people who were using the land for their livelihood.

"People holding offices and they don't do due diligence, or they don't do proper project planning when they are charged with responsibilities they need to be sanctioned because you cannot cause government financial losses," Otaala said as Nsubuga the man in the eye of the storm appeared composed with a smile.

Ghost landlords

Agule county MP Polycarp Ogwari says the landowners were fewer at the beginning, but the number has since increased

"That is why the petitioner here mentions ghost landlords," Ogwari noted.

The petition goes ahead to mention how unknown individuals obtained letters of administration for PAPs land and instead took advantage of the situation depriving the rightful owners of compensation for their land taken for the Karuma hydropower project.

Bokora County MP John Bosco Ngoya said he saw a lot of pessimism in the compensation project.

"I see you have come with many sociologists, but they are not telling you us what needs to be done to sustain action for this project," Ngoya said.

Mitooma woman MP, Juliet Agasha said how the costs of the Karuma dam was increased due to disturbance allowance (the energy ministry describes it as in-kind compensation of sh3.9b paid.

The Chairperson natural resources committee and MP West Budama Emmanuel Otala during the committee session.

Status

According to the Energy Ministry,

Total claims - 1174

Total compensated claims - 1049

Outstanding claims - 125

Outstanding claims before courts of law - 6

Outstanding claims for physical resettlement - 119

Total compensation paid - sh6.8b