By witnessradio.org Team
Amuru – Uganda – A total of 158 residents of Atoro village, Amuru Sub-County in Amuru district have renewed demands for compensation of their 12.8 square miles that Cuanza limited obtained to build a multibillion Nile City.
Cuanza Limited is an international company registered in Uganda to undertake the Nile City project construction that will last five years to foster global tourism in the post-war Acholi sub-region and boost large-scale commercial agriculture. Through its foreign investors, the company has earmarked up to USD 100 million, approximately 368 billion shillings for the ambitious strategic Nile City project to be located in both Amuru and Nwoya Districts.
According to the list of beneficiaries, only 78 verified landowners have each been paid an upfront compensation of 500,000 shillings equivalent to 136 US dollars. The other 80 claimants have not yet received their disbursements.
Following the consent of the community and local leaders in Amuru, Cuanza Limited acquired 8,192 acres of land for the Nile City project. Each acre piece of land was surveyed and valued at 800,000 Shillings (equivalent to 218 US dollars).
Bosco Omony Okot, the Chairperson of Atoro Land Owners Association who owns 103 acres says the delay in their compensation is threatening their lives because some leaders want to forcefully own the land to fraudulently get compensations?
David Omony another resident with more than 15 acres says they decided to give the land to the company to allow the project to go on.
“We did not expect them to hold us in such a manner. Our interest was to let the project go as well as them working on our compensation, but this is so frustrating,” said one David Omony.
Omony appeals to the company to compensate them in order to vacate the said land.
Denis Onguti the Coordinator of the company in Amuru revealed that the compensation process delayed due to an outbreak of Coronavirus Disease in the country, however, he pointed out that all the claimants will be paid as agreed.
