By Mukooli Leonard and Kirinya Ayubu
The state minister for
relief and disaster preparedness in the office of the prime minister (OPM) Esther Anyakun, has apologized to the people living in the risk areas of Mount Elgon region for the delays to have them resettled in safer areas.
Early this year, the Prime Minister Robina Nabanja told leaders from the Mount Elgon districts that the government had earmarked shillings 17 million to be given to people willing to resettle themselves as part of the relocation plan the program she launched and was to begin with those who voluntarily wished to move to safe areas of their choice.
Now following the Thursday disaster that killed at least five people in Bulambuli district, the State Minister for Disaster Easther Anyakun apologized for the delayed kickoff of the program.
Anyakun made an apology to the people while addressing a crowd of mourners at Masugu Primary School in Bulambuli district, during the burial of the most most recent victims of the landslides within the Elgon region.
“We are sorry for the delays that may have occurred in the process of implementing the cash program to enable the people to resettle themselves in safer areas. But as we talk, we are in the final stages, and cash worth 17 million shillings is going to be given to the people starting this week in the pilot districts of Bududa, Manafwa, Namisindwa, and Sironko, where 4,000 homesteads have been identified.” She said.
“As a government, we grieve with the families that have lost their loved ones, and we are sorry that we have lost young citizens who would have been of great value to the nation.” She said.
This is the second time the government is apologizing to the people who have been affected by the landslides. In 2018, President Yoweri Museveni apologised to the people for the delayed resettlement plans after a landslide killed dozens of people in Bukalasi sub county in Bududa district.
Museveni said then that the delays were being caused by the politicization of the relocation program.
“Move away from the Mountains and conserve nature, the politicization of the relocation program has been resolved, if politics had not been at the center then people resettled in phases” Museveni said in 2018.
Anyakun noted that the government is focusing on cash transfers as the best alternative to the construction of houses in Bunambutye to enable people to resettle themselves in safer areas explaining that the money will see the people leave the landslide-prone areas for safer areas at will, without force.
“People who had invaded the boundaries between the forest and community will be compensated with 17 million to resettle themselves and will not be allowed to come back. This will be government land that the National Forest Authority and Uganda Wildlife Authority will take over to plant forests” she added.
Annet Nandudu, the Bulambuli district chairperson, furiously expressed her disappointment in the government for the delays in the implementation of the resettlement plan, which she said is excessively delayed.
Nandudu said that most of the people in Bulambuli live in hilly areas that are prone to landslides, and these have been earmarked for resettlement, but only a handful of them have been resettled.
“This family that was killed by the landslide had been considered for resettlement and they had the yellow card from OPM, but see the results we are getting out of the bureaucracies in government” She said.
She urged the Prime Minister’s Office to give an acre of land to each of the individual households affected so that they can resettle themselves as they wait for the long-term government plans.
“As a local leader, I will declare the land in Bunambutye ready for occupancy should OPM fail to respond positively towards the dire needs of the people after all, this land was meant for people living in the landslide-prone areas; occupying it will not be offensive” she added.
This disaster has thrown many of the locals into fear as they feel unsafe where they are.
Adam Monje, one of the residents, notes that they are now left at the mercy of God to protect them as there is nowhere safe to stay.
“We had never seen cracks nor any signs that landslides were going to occur in this place. This was so abrupt that we have also failed to comprehend the actual trigger of this landslide” he said.
Robert Kesigwa, the Secretary General of Uganda Red Cross, noted that disasters are on the rise across the country and thus called for the need for a change of strategy towards managing disasters.
“As Red Cross, our emphasis will have to be put on early action plans, forecast financing, and early warning systems such that on one hand, we can prevent, and on the other, we can warn people and save them with their properties.” Kesigwa noted.
Meanwhile, the Uganda Red Cross gave out non-food items to the 200 homesteads that have been affected, including tarpaulins, source pans, cups, mosquito nets, soap, and solar lights.
The Prime Minister’s Office also delivered relief food and non-food items that will be distributed to the people, including 30 tons of maize flour, 20 tons of beans, jerricans, and tarpaulins.”
The Minister Anyakun also handed over cash worth 30 million shillings to the grieving families, with each dead body being accounted for 5 million for burial expenses, including the one person who was killed last year.