By: Ismael Kasooha
Elgon
The Inter-Ministerial Committee set up by Cabinet to expedite the process of resettling over 12,000 households at risk of landslides in Mount Elgon sub region has made a spot visit to parcels of land that the government intends to purchase for resettlement of people at risk of landslides.
Part of the land earmarked for settlement of the people in Kween District
The committee led by the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban development Judith Nabakooba comprises of the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Eng. Hillary Onek. Other members on the committee include the Ministry of Water and Environment, and the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
The Government of Uganda through the Office of the Prime Minister is to resettle 12,031 households from the 7 Districts of Elgon sub-region that are at risk of landslides.
The committee met land owners and Bibanja holders in the Districts of Bulambuli and Kween where land has been identified to resettle the landslide prone households.
Nabakooba while meeting the residents in the two districts appealed to the public to allow their brothers and sisters who are at risk of being buried by landslides be resettled in their areas.
“Cabinet gave us a directive that we come to Elgon sub region and to help the government acquire encumbrance-free land where we can resettle the households who are at risk in the region,” said Nabakooba.
Some sections of residents claimed that land was acquired by the title holders without their knowledge and wanted to first be considered first.
A land claimant addressing the Ministers during the field visit in Bulambuli
Eng. Hillary Onek said that the Government wants to resettle the people within their region to avoid incidents that happened earlier where some people were resettled in Kiryandongo but came back and were swept away by landslides again.
“We are here because we want to resettle your brothers and sisters in the same region of Elgon but there is plenty of land elsewhere in the country where these people can settle and start a new life free from threats of landslides. But the government decided to resettle these people in the same region,” said Onek.
After inspecting the earmarked land parcels the Ministers briefed the media on their findings and the way forward.
Nabakooba said that some of the land parcels had some issues which can be managed and a consensus reached.
The Commissioner Disaster Preparedness and Management, Mr. Davis Mwenyi said that the Government was ready to address the challenge and requires 28,000 acres of land immediately.
The Government of Uganda resettled hundreds of people affected by landslides in Elgon sub region in Bunambutye where houses were constructed for them.
Government intends to move people from risky areas in Mount Elgon and plant trees there as one way of conserving the environment and addressing the challenge of landslides.
The Minister of Lands Housing and Urban Development instructed the Technical Committee to ensure that they meet both the landlords and tenants and resolve the few issues surround the land and pave way for government to acquire the land for resettling the people before other disasters strike.
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