The Office of the Prime Minister has given a two-month ultimatum to people living in disaster risk areas at Bugisu region who are being compensated to leave their areas.
The Office was allocated 43 billion shillings under presidential directive and this week the exercise to compensate people living in disaster risk areas was launched. It was launched in Namisindwa District and later rolled out to other districts in the Elgon region.
Speaking to the media during a press conference at Mbale Resort Hotel today, Prime Minister Robinah Nambanja said those who have cooperated have been given two months November and December to vacate and find safe places to settle.
She said anyone who defies the ultimatum by 30th December this year will be forcibly evicted or arrested. She added that the Shs 18 million being given as compensation does not represent the value of the land or property one holds.
Nambanja said the Meteorological Authority has predicted El Niño rainfall in the coming two weeks across the country, especially in the Bugisu region, and the government does not want people to die as has happened before.
Each family is receiving Shs 18 million, and after vacating, the land will be taken over by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to plant trees and will be turned into part of Mount Elgon National Park.
Davinia Esther Anyakun, the State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, urged the people of Bugisu to embrace the exercise so that the country does not lose more lives. She said the exercise will be rolled out to other disaster-prone regions such as Teso and Rwenzori, among others, after Elgon, so that people can find safer places to settle.
Anyakun said the government came up with the plan to give people money because the previous arrangement of relocating them to Bulambuli was slow, with only about one thousand people resettled, leaving the majority still in risky areas.
Simon Mulongo, the state minister for Gender and Social Development, said that previously, people were compensated by government and non-governmental organisations but still refused to vacate, adding that this time it will be enforced.
Emmanuel Bwaya, the Member of Parliament representing Bulambuli County, said Bugisu leaders have talked to their people, and all have agreed to find land elsewhere to settle after being compensated-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
