The High court has ordered Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) to pay Shs 200 million in damages and an additional Shs 200,000 per day as compensation for illegally installing high-voltage power lines over private land without prior compensation.
The ruling follows a 2023 lawsuit filed by Rafella Adong, who sued through her attorney, Gunter Piber. Adong argued that UETCL’s decision to run transmission lines over her 2.023-hectare land in Nalubudde, Entebbe, violated Article 26 of the Constitution, which mandates that private property cannot be compulsorily acquired without prior, fair compensation.
In its defense, UETCL claimed that it had initially offered Adong Shs 198 million in compensation, but she rejected it. The company also argued that Adong was an absentee landlord who could not be traced. Furthermore, UETCL contended that since no pylons were erected on her land—only electric wires were strung overhead her land remained usable, contrary to her claims.
However, justice Musa Ssekaana, who has since been promoted to the Court of Appeal, ruled that UETCL had indeed violated the law.
“It is not in dispute that the plaintiff is the registered proprietor of land comprised in Busiro, Block 382 Plot 175 at Nalubudde, measuring approximately 2.023 hectares. It is further undisputed that while implementing the Mutundwe-Entebbe 132 KV Transmission Line and Substations, part of the plaintiff’s land was affected, rendering it unusable,” the ruling stated.
Ssekaana found that UETCL’s failure to promptly and fairly compensate Adong before taking possession of her land was unconstitutional and violated her right to own property. As a result, the court ordered UETCL to pay: Shs 100 million in general damages, Shs 100 million in punitive damages and Shs 200,000 per day from the date of judgment until full compensation is made. The Shs 200 million does not include compensation for the land itself.
Adong had initially demanded Shs 3.4 billion, arguing that UETCL had trespassed on her property for 348 days from March 9, 2023, to July 22, 2024 without compensation.
It would be fair if people put money aside and let projects like roads, electricity, water, railway and the likes for the good of the public use and development of the country be carried without much ado. The same people will be crying that it is almost impossible to travel because of poor roads, accidents due to narrow roads etc. I am sure this lady needs electricity in her premises. Let us help in the development of our country. You need compensation be reasonable
These are high voltage lines..if you know what I mean..Besides you can’t just donate your land to a business/profit making company.unleaa you acquired.it fraudulently.
Thanks
But in the event that corruption and embezzlement takes center stage, the citizens lack the patriotism spirit. Am not sure if this lady is an ordinary citizen.
I am not talking of donating. Just because it is the Govt which is involved do not over bloat. We know this is zhat hqppend
I am not talking of donating. Just because it is the Govt which is involved do not over bloat. We know this is zhat hqppend
I am not talking of donating. Just because it is the Govt which is involved do not over bloat. We know this is zhat hqppend
I am not talking of donating. Just because it is the Govt which is involved do not over bloat. We know this is what happens in almost all the cases.
Leonard you have a point. Such are the NRM cadre judges who are making a name for themselves despite all the patriotism this government has spent lots of tax payers money to teach these NRM administrators what patriotism means to all the good citizens of this country. Instead of encouraging these two sides to continue burgaining in the mediation courts that are available, this judge is determined to show off his great competence to those that promoted him. The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited sucks tax payers money. Government should be seen to save taxpayers money wisely. The Kingdom state territorial Authority has many more cases of land compesations than anybody else. The Kingdom state has not yet gone forward to lodge against the Uganda Central government in the courts of law for land compensation charges mainly because of Ganda patriotism!