UNRA given ultimatum over delayed land tittles, compensation backlog

Parliament has raised eyebrows over the Uganda National Roads Authority’s (UNRA) failure to return 6,673 land titles to Project Affected Persons (PAPs), despite these titles having been collected more than 10 years ago.

According to UNRA’s Land Acquisition and Resettlement Policy, these titles should have been returned within six months.

This delay, affecting several road projects across the country, was highlighted in a report by Medard Sseggona, Chairperson of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE), while presenting findings from the Auditor General’s report on UNRA.

Sseggona revealed that the delays are particularly pronounced in the Central Region, especially in areas like Wakiso, Mpigi, and Mukono.

For instance, only 87 of the 856 titles collected for the Kampala Northern Bypass project, which began in 2004, have been returned. The Auditor General’s November 2023 report further detailed that out of 8,101 titles collected, only 1,428 had been returned, leaving 82.4% of the titles still in UNRA’s custody.

UNRA officials admitted the issue but blamed the delays on the Ministry of Lands, which is responsible for the subdivision and mutation processes. Despite this, Sseggona argued that UNRA, as the face of government in such projects, is ultimately responsible for ensuring timely returns of titles.

He warned that the prolonged delay is depriving landowners of their rights, as they are unable to sell or transact on their land without titles. This situation also raises potential legal risks for UNRA, as affected persons may seek legal redress.

In addition to the delayed land titles, Parliament also expressed frustration over UNRA’s outstanding compensation payments to PAPs, which have soared to UGX 773.7 billion. Sseggona’s report noted that while UNRA had acquired 28,960.87 acres of land from 172,608 PAPs, only 139,933 of them had been compensated, leaving 32,675 still awaiting payment. Delays in compensation often lead to re-assessments and higher costs, as landowners reject earlier valuations.

Sseggona also highlighted specific road projects, such as the Kigumba-Bulima and Acholibur-Musingo roads, where original valuations had to be redone due to payment delays. UNRA admitted that the challenges included land disputes, bounced cheques, and inadequate documentation from PAPs.

Additionally, UNRA cited insufficient budget releases from the Ministry of Finance as a major hindrance to processing payments.

Parliament adopted COSASE’s recommendation, urging UNRA to engage relevant stakeholders to expedite the return of land titles and compensate PAPs without further delays. The Committee also called on the Executive to submit a Treasury Memorandum outlining actions taken to address the situation.

Parliament issued a six-month ultimatum for the government to establish a clear unit cost for road construction in Uganda, in an effort to curb corruption and exorbitant rates.

A study commissioned by the Ministry of Works and Transport in 2023, conducted by LEA Associates South Asia Pvt. Ltd, suggested that Uganda’s road construction costs were lower than in neighboring countries.

However, COSASE rejected the findings, citing significant gaps in the data provided by key agencies like UNRA and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). The committee pointed to the high unit cost of the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway and lingering issues with road toll fees as evidence of the need for a more thorough and accurate cost assessment.