Moroto leaders receive training in bargaining for land compensation

MOROTO – District and Municipal leaders of Moroto have been trained on how to effectively bargain for land compensation.

The training supported by Advocates for Natural Resources and Development (ANARDE) in partnership with Avocat sans frontiers (ASF) on Wednesday at Lavender Hotel in Moroto was aimed at equipping districts officials and community leaders with knowledge on the development of compensation rates for crops and semi-permanent structures in Moroto District.

Moses Lote one of the participants hailed Anarde officials for organising the training saying on many occasions people of Moroto have been cheated in land compensations.

He said lack of knowledge on proper compensation bargaining has rendered several families in Karamoja landless and they end up as squatters because they are paid peanuts in compensation that cannot help them find land elsewhere.

Mr. Jackson Angella a resident of Rupa Sub County in Moroto District said the training has come at the right time since several investors have taken over land in the name of investment without compensating the owners of the property.

“We are very happy for this training because initially we had no knowledge on how to bargain for proper compensation and this has made our people get paid little money and lose a lot of land and their houses, crops are destroyed without meaningful gaining, “he said.

Mr. Michael Omara the programme officer Anarde told the participants that article 26 of the constitution provides for the right to protection from deprivation of property.

“We hope that this training will help to contribute to archiving, fostered public participation for populations affected by natural resources management,” he said.