Minister for the Presidency Babirye Milly Babalanda has assured residents affected by the planned nuclear power plant in Kasaato, Buyanja Sub-county, Buyende District, that government will ensure only genuine Project Affected Persons (PAPs) receive compensation.
Babalanda said the delay in compensating the affected residents followed the discovery of ghost beneficiaries during the verification of the compensation register.
She said the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, together with Buyende District authorities, was working to clean up the register before payments are made.
“The delay was due to ghost names that were discovered. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development together with Buyende District leadership are now working tirelessly to clean the register and ensure only the rightful owners are paid,” Babalanda said.
The minister, who is also the Budiope West Member of Parliament, made the remarks on Wednesday during the Budiope Gabula Day celebrations at Kitaidhumbwa Primary School in Buyende District.
The event, attended by thousands of residents, brought together Busoga Kingdom officials, local leaders and central government officials.
The celebrations were presided over by the Kyabazinga of Busoga, His Royal Highness William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, who launched Kitaidhumbwa Community Primary School as a new skilling centre under the Gabula Royal Foundation.
The centre will provide practical and vocational skills to young people in Busoga as part of efforts to improve their employability and create alternative sources of income.
To support the initiative, the Kyabazinga pledged to construct a nine classroom block, a girls’ dormitory, a boys’ dormitory and a school kitchen.
Babalanda welcomed the initiative, saying it complements President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s Presidential Skilling Hubs, which are intended to equip young people with practical skills.
“By doing so, Your Royal Highness, you create alternative employment opportunities for the youth and lead the way in embracing government programmes that are transforming the lives of your subjects and all Ugandans at large,” she said.
She also commended the working relationship between the Busoga Kingdom and the Central Government, saying the partnership had contributed to development across the sub-region.
Babalanda also announced progress on the long-awaited Ambercourt–Mbulamuti–Kamuli–Bukungu road, which she said had been promised by President Museveni since 2001.
She said Parliament had authorised the government to borrow up to €207.77 million, equivalent to about Shs842.71 billion, from Citibank and other financial institutions to finance the upgrading of the 127 kilometre road and an additional 10 kilometres of roads in Jinja City.
The minister urged residents to take advantage of government wealth creation programmes, including the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood Programme, Operation Wealth Creation, the GROW Project and the four acre model.
She said the programmes could help households increase production, create employment and reduce poverty.
The Kyabazinga thanked God and President Museveni for supporting the development of Busoga Kingdom, saying the region was on a transformational journey aimed at improving the welfare of its people.
He also thanked the people of Budiope for their continued support of the kingdom and called on young people to take education seriously.
Gabula said education was essential in preparing young people to become productive and responsible citizens.
The Kyabazinga also paid tribute to the late Tooro King, His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, whose burial is scheduled for Saturday.
“May God comfort the people of Tooro, the Babiito clan, the royal family and everyone mourning our beloved King Oyo. ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted’ – Matthew 5:4,” Gabula said.
The Budiope Gabula Day celebrations ended with cultural performances celebrating Busoga’s heritage, traditions and unity.
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