Analysis of the delay factors in land acquisition for road construction in Uganda: a case study of the Kampala northern by-pass under Uganda national roads authority (UNRA)

Abstract

This study analyzed the delay factors in land acquisition for road construction in Uganda while using Kampala Northern By-pass Project under Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). The study was guided by objectives which included examining the laws and policies governing land acquisition for road construction in Uganda, the process of land acquisition for road construction in Uganda and the delay factors affecting land acquisition for road construction in Uganda. The study used cross-sectional survey design and considered quantitative approach. The study considered a sample size of 67 respondents and all managed to respondent back. Data was collected using questionnaires. The study revealed that the policies followed during land acquisition included gazetting of the Right of Way for Road Projects before any Land Acquisition activity commences, preparing and implementing stakeholder engagement plans for every road project, Project Affected Persons were always served with declarations about government intentions to acquire their land for road construction and there was a formal way of handling disputes and other grievances on land to facilitate land Acquisition. The process of land acquisition followed the order of designing the intended road project, survey & detailed inspections of the Right of Way to be acquired, issuance of notice on government’s intention for the land acquisition through stakeholder engagements, identification of land rights and land boundary opening, writing and submit of the valuation report by the Valuers and Surveyors, than identification, verification and disclosure of the compensation amounts to the PAPs, preparation of payment Batches and preparation of the Right of Way Title by the Surveyors for the Road Project. The factors affecting land acquisition included existence of multiple property interests in land which leads land ownership conflicts, unnecessary bureaucracies, politicians influencing decisions of PAPs, delay of government to release funds and lack of land ownership documents by the PAPs. The study recommended that government should also improve significantly in the transparency of standards involved in the process of land acquisition. Land owners need to be involved in the entire land acquisition process, right from the planning, to the negotiation and the implementation. There is need for resettlement policy to facilitate proper determination of PAPs’ inventory, scope of compensation and necessary assistances required to mitigate negative CLA effects and the government needs to come up with other non-monetary compensation, to compensate for other social effects such as loss of friends, disruption of families as well as loss of neighbors.