As the government carries out the planned compensation of the people affected by the National Oil Palm Project (NOPP) in Buvuma district, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has revealed that over 300 people have so far received their compensation.
In a statement released over the weekend, MAAIF noted that 301 out of the 1,504 Project affected Persons (PAPs) have been fully paid in the five villages of Bubembe, Bwaka, Buwanga, Mbekete, and Ndayiga.
However the ministry noted that payments for another 158 PAPs have been bounced by the banks due to mistakes made while completing their bank account details.
“These mistakes include mismatches between the account names and numbers, wrong account numbers and closed accounts” the statement read.
The Ministry further appealed to the PAPs to check at the office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) office in Buvuma and resubmit their bank details through the office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Buvuma district.
Compensation of the project affected persons follows a directive by President Yoweri Museveni last year to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to undertake a comprehensive re- verification exercise to identity and verify Project Affected Persons (PAPS) affected by the National Oil Palm Project (NOPP) in Buvuma District.
Subsequently, Government released UGX 14 Bn to compensate the PAPs in Buvuma District as part payment of the total compensation value of UGX. 28 Bn.
According to ministry officials, the ministry is set to undertake a final re-verification exercise of all affected Persons in the district from Thursday 8th to Wednesday 14th January.
The eight villages which were affected by Palm Oil growing in the District include Bubembe, Bwaka, Buwanga, Mbekete, Kachanga, Kaziru, Bukalabati and Ndayiga.
