Over 25 billion shs compensation pending for Rwekunye–Apac–Lira–Puranga project

17 August 2026, 11:04 pm

By Winnie Auma

The government has yet to pay more than 25 billion shs in compensation to people affected by the construction of the Rwekunye–Apac–Lira–Puranga road project, according to Kole North MP Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti.

Dr. Opio, who also serves on Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure, says the information was obtained during a recent meeting with officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport.He says the government still owes 11.5 billion shillings project-affected persons along the Rwekunye–Apac section and 15.8 billion shs to those affected along the Apac–Lira–Puranga stretch.

The committee has now directed the Ministry of Works to present a detailed compensation plan, indicating how much each affected person will receive and when the payments will be made.

Dr. Opio also expressed concern over delays in completing the road project. He says construction of the 90-kilometre Rwekunye–Apac section stands at 72 percent, with 58 kilometres completed, while the 100-kilometre Apac–Lira–Puranga section is 95 percent complete.

According to the legislator, both road projects were expected to be completed in 2023, but were delayed by slow compensation payments and redesigns to accommodate bridges in flood-prone areas.

In 2020, the government awarded contracts worth about 750 billion shs for the project.

Sadeem Al General Trading and Contracting of Kuwait was contracted to construct the 90.9-kilometre Rwekunye–Apac section at a cost of Shillings 337.5 billion, while Gulsan Insaat Sanayi Turizm Nakliyat Ve Ticaret of Turkey is upgrading the 100.1 kilometre Apac–Lira–Puranga section for shs 416.3 billion.