Over 150 people who were affected by the EACOP(East African Crude Oil Pipeline) Project who did not receive their National IDs are finding hardships in their attempt to work on their compensation process.
This was revealed in a meeting on Bunyoro affairs about the affected persons of the oil and gas sector which was organized by CRED(Civic Civil Response on Environment and Development) in conjunction with other organizations like Advocates and Frontiers, Oxfam Uganda and the Navigators for Development Association(NAVODA).
Beatrice one of the affected persons in Kyakaboga village in Hoima District says her land containing trees and a maize garden were counted and she was waiting for the compensation however, a few weeks back the EACOP project Officials aked her to open a bank account where her compensation fee will be lined but when she went to the bank, they asked her to present her National ID which she did not possess.
“I was told to open up a bank account where my compensation fee will be lined, but unfortunately I did not receive a national ID during the national registration hence being unable to open up an account”. Beatrice said.
Innocent Tumwebaze the Oil Refinery Residents Association chairperson says several people who were affected by the EACOP project in Hoima District are facing much challenges of this kind.
“We are requesting the government of Uganda to come and intervene this issue so as to come up with ways how our people can be helped on this matter”. Tumwebaze said.
Benon Tusingwire the Executive director of NAVODA says various people were left out during the National IDs registration because they were not Ugandans.
Facil Twesigye the Executive director of CRED says the affected persons are not only facing the challenge of lack of National IDs but also the lack of introduction letters from their local leaders.
“A big number of the affected persons do have enough documents needed by Project Officials, so as stakeholders, we should take the responsibility of liaising to the government on this matter”. Twesigye said.
Fred Bazarabusa the land acquisition Officer of the EACOP project said that currently they engaging NIRA and the government of Uganda so as to help these people who were affected by the project to receive their compensation.
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