Independent presidential candidate Professor Venansius Baryamureeba has promised to compensate landowners who hosted Army detaches and installations during the two decades war in northern Uganda.
During the war, locals gave land or their land was used without their authorization by the army. While campaigning at Cereleno market in Gulu town on Saturday, Prof Baryamureeba said such people deserve to be compensated.
“In land acquisition there is always legal procedures to follow, but in this case UPDF established detaches on the people’s land and even when the war ends no compensation is given and UPDF continues to stay on the land,” Prof Baryamureba said.
One of those who claims his land was used by the army but has not been compensated is Nicholas Opoka, 87. Opoka says in 1986, the army took four plots of his land adjacent to the 4th Division Army Barrack.
“We feel that if there is no compensation, we should get back our land for development,” says Opoka. “We appreciate their [army’s] struggle for peace in the region, but there is need to have what belongs to us.”
Opoka is not alone. In Pabbo Sub County in Amuru district there are more than 1,000 households locked up in land wrangles with the UPDF over land.
Prof Baryamureba, a former Makerere university Vice Chancellor says his government will compensate people like Opoka and the communities in Pabbo.
By Terrace Alur
