Residents of Buseruka facing eviction to pave way for the construction of an oil refinery are demanding to be resettled closer to the facility. Lazarus Cohmbe, the local council one chairman Bukona A village in Kabaale parish in Hoima says that they should be resettled closer to the oil refinery because they too need to benefit.
Cohmbe additionally, the proposed land for their resettlement should be fertile and suitable for human settlement.
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The Bukona B Local council one chairman Godfrey Manyireki says their place of resettlement should not be out of Hoima district as they need to reap the oil benefits they have waited for years now. Manyireki explains that being far away from Hoima will not only de-touch them from the oil benefits but also their cultural and social set ups.
They also want to know whether government will avail them social amenities like schools and health centers as it is now. The residents stated their demand after a Resettlement Action Plan Sensitization meeting conducted by Ministry of energy officials together Strategic Friends International, a private company contracted to draw the resettlement plan.
Bashir Hangi, the communications officer petroleum exploration and production department in charge refinery says it is premature to comment on the residents demand as government is still awaiting a Resettlement Action Plan report.
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Nathan Isabirye, the team leader Strategic Friends International says his group is on ground doing a social economic baseline research, surveying and property valuation. He explains that the team is collecting data from the affected residents.
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Isabirye says that a report will be submitted to government in four months time. More than 30,000 residents from the villages of Kabakete, Nyamasoga, Kitegwa, Kyapalon, Nyahaira, Bukona A and B, Kigaaga B, Katooke, Kayera and Nyakasenene in Kabaale parish are scheduled for eviction from the 29 square mile piece of land.
