Mukono Leaders Demand Transparency in Compensation for 92 Km Kampala-Jinja Expressway Project

What the report says

Mukono District leaders are pressing for clearer information on land acquisition and compensation for people affected by the Kampala–Jinja Expressway, a major road project in Uganda. The issue was raised on Monday during a meeting in Mukono between the Parliamentary Committee on National Economy, district leaders and technical officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport, who briefed them on the project’s resettlement action plan.

According to Watchdog Uganda, Mukono leaders said local communities and district structures should play a fuller role in the project’s implementation. District LCV Chairperson Francis Lukooya Mukoome argued that affected residents need better consultation to reduce land disputes and other conflicts. He pointed to an earlier road project in the area as an example of how engagement can improve public support. Mukono Resident District Commissioner Fatuma Ndisaba separately asked for a detailed compensation register showing who has been paid, who is still waiting and why some payments may be delayed.

The expressway project includes the main Kampala–Jinja route and the Kampala Southern Bypass. Leaders also raised concerns about coordination problems, including alleged damage to municipal roads during utility excavations, and suggested a joint technical and political committee to improve oversight. Committee chair Jane Pacuto said Parliament treats land acquisition and compensation as urgent because of their potential economic impact and said the concerns would be forwarded for further consideration. More broadly, the meeting underscored the need for transparency and cooperation so the project can move forward without alienating host communities.