The communities in Busoga region who are going to be affected by the mining and production of Rare Earth Metals - REM have asked the Government to exercise transparency while compensating them for their land.
The mineral deposit ranks among the largest known ionic adsorption clay outside of China. Warren Tregurtha, the Chief Executive Officer of Rwenzori Rare Metals - RRM, a private company licensed by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to carry out the mineral prospecting and exploration revealed that the actual mining will begin in 2024.
However, tempers are flaring on the ground with landowners crying foul following the involvement of dubious individuals brokering land deals in anticipation of high returns from the Government compensations.
Jane Nalongo, 30, a resident of Buwaaya parish in Mayuge District told URN that she and her other six siblings are being forcefully evicted by the Sub-County Chief backed by some security operatives following the illegal survey of their land by Rwenzori Rare Metals - RRM.
Through their area MP, Abdu Katuntu, the aggrieved residents, who include cultural and religious leaders sought an audience with Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development to seek clarity about the land compensation process.
Jamada Kasisa, the Local Council One Chairperson of Makuutu village in Bugweri Sub-County, says the brokers, mainly Government officials are on a rampage coercing residents to sell their land arguing that the Government will take it without compensating them.
Ms Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, UgandaOn Monday, Nankabirwa visited the area to interact with the Project Affected Persons - PAPs and assured them that the Government is undertaking due diligence to ensure the residents are compensated.
The Minister disclosed that her Ministry is yet to engage Government valuers to evaluate the land occupied by the affected households before they are duly compensated to allow for the extraction of the minerals to commence.
Based on the provisions of the Mining Act 2003 and Mining Regulations 2019, Rwenzori Rare Metals is required to apply and acquire a mining lease through the Energy Ministry before it can compensate/resettle affected landowners.
In order to obtain the Mining lease, the company must undertake a feasibility study, conduct an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), obtain consent from landowners to access the project land, and develop a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) that will be used to mitigate the probable resettlement impacts to the project affected persons.
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