RAP Close Out Audit for 2 Hydroelectric Power Plants in Western Uganda

The two (2) Small Hydroelectric Power Plants were developed along the River Nyamagasani. The Nyamagasani 1 project is a 15.0 MW run-of-river hydropower plant utilising the hydropower potential of the river Nyamagasani as it drops 330m in a series of rapids, near the village of Kyarumba in the foothills of the Rwenzori mountains in Western Uganda. The project is connected to the Ugandan National Grid. The Nyamagasani 2 project is a 6.0 MW run-of-river hydropower plant utilising the hydropower potential of the river Nyamagasani as it drops 140m in a series of rapids, in and around the village of Kyarumba in the foothills of the Rwenzori mountains in Western Uganda. The project is also connected to the Ugandan National Grid.

Against this background, the project intends to undertake a RAP Close-Out Audit in compliance with Ugandan Legislative requirements and IFC Performance Standards (PS) 1 & 5. PS1 (Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts) advocates for the identification and evaluation of environmental and social risks and impacts. The standard emphasises that grievances from affected communities should be responded to and managed appropriately. It also provides for adequate engagement with affected communities.

A Resettlement and Livelihood Plan has been developed for the two projects while observing the requirements of PS5 (Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement) which encourages the avoidance of forced eviction and should involuntary physical displacement from homes/ land occur and associated loss of livelihoods is unavoidable, then the protection of the rights and interests of affected people should be included in a resettlement plan or livelihood restoration plan that meets IFC standards.

In Summary, the objective of the study as outlined in the ToR is to:

• Determine the extent and nature of the identification of affected people (direct and indirect)
• Assess the adequacy of public consultation and disclosure
• Assess the extent to which resettlement plans have been conceived and executed as development programs
• Assess the extent of delivery of appropriate compensation and resettlement entitlements
• Assess the level of achievement of the desired livelihood outcomes
• Assess the extent to which entitlements and benefit programs have contributed to the achievement of sustainable livelihoods
• Assess the level of social and economic integration of resettled households into host communities
• Assess the extent to which recommendations of the Monitoring Team have been implemented
• Provide advice on the most appropriate road map to address any gaps identified.