Byamukama alleges shs30m land was resold to government for shs5bn

[Archival Sense]

Transport Minister Fred Byamukama has raised concerns over alleged collusion between land buyers and government officials to inflate compensation claims for land acquired for road projects.

Byamukama told Parliament that some individuals allegedly obtain information from ministry officials about planned road projects and rush to buy land from unsuspecting local owners before the projects are publicly known.

He cited a case in which an acre allegedly bought from a local owner for Shs30 million was later resold to the government for Shs5 billion within a year.

“You buy from a local person when he or she is not aware at 30 million Ugandan shillings. But after one year or less, you sell it to government at five billion Ugandan shillings,” Byamukama said.

He also alleged that inflated valuations were being used to demand huge compensation payouts from government.

Byamukama cited another case involving a structure that he said cost about Shs200 million to construct using eucalyptus poles and wire mesh but was allegedly valued at approximately Shs11 billion after its owner colluded with ministry officials.

He said the owner subsequently blocked the planned road from passing through the property until the government paid the demanded compensation.

“Now, he goes and connives with our people in the ministry. They value that property at about 11 billion and says, the road will not pass here until you pay me,” Byamukama told Parliament.

The allegations raise questions about the integrity of land acquisition and valuation processes for government road projects and the potential financial losses to the state from inflated compensation claims.

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