FES, GRA conduct community training in Mubende district on compulsory land acquisition processes

On 25th and 26^th April 2019, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Partnership with Global Rights Alert held community trainings in Mubende District about compulsory land acquisition processes. Participants were from two sub counties of Butorogo and Kitenga that will be affected by the Oil pipeline. The RDC of Mubende Ms. Mary Nkyakwera encouraged the women in these sub counties to be involved in all land acquisition processes from the start to finish to ensure that they benefit from the developments in their areas.

The LCV Chairperson of Mubende Mr.  Kibuuka Amooti also called upon women to get registered on land documents such as agreements and land titles not as merely witnesses but as co-owners with their husbands so that they can secure their share in compensation.

The communication officer of Mubende Local Government noted that delayed approval of compensation rates in the district is a challenge and called on the Chief Government Valuer’s office to consider prioritizing approval of these rates.

The participants were encouraged to seek redress in case of grievances related to land acquisition from the available mechanisms such as the local council executive committees, the Land Protection Unit and the office of Child and family protection of police, seek help from Legal aid providers such as Justices Centres Uganda and lastly run to court if the lower mechanisms fail.

The participants welcomed the trainings in their communities and were thankful for all the information shared with them by the experts.

FES will continue with these trainings in selected districts along the East African Crude Oil Pipeline.

Talking pictures developed by Advocats Sans Frontieres were used in these trainings to illustrate the land acquisition process.