Cabinet has approved Shs62 billion for the resettlement of landslide victims in the Mount Elgon sub-region, including the purchase of more than 2,200 acres of land for affected households.
The resolutions were announced yesterday at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala by ICT and National Guidance minister Justine Kasule Lumumba following a Cabinet meeting held on October 5.
Cabinet approved the purchase of 2,217.66 acres at an estimated cost of Shs8.87 billion for the resettlement programme.
Under the arrangement, households choosing land will receive two acres valued at Shs8 million, together with Shs10 million to construct a house.
Cabinet also approved Shs18 million each for 1,423 households living in areas classified as being at very high risk of landslides.
Each of the households will receive Shs8 million to purchase land and Shs10 million to construct a house.
However, government estimates that thousands more households remain in high-risk areas and will require additional funding to relocate.
Lumumba said 10,558 households in high-risk areas require Shs190.044 billion for resettlement.
Cabinet approved that the money be provided through a supplementary budget.
The affected households will be required to leave the landslide-prone areas after receiving resettlement support and hand over the land to government.
The land will subsequently become part of areas managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The Office of the Prime Minister will work with the Internal Security Organisation, local governments and Parish Development Model structures to monitor the proper use of the resettlement funds.
Lumumba said the land identified for purchase had been checked to establish its suitability before the Cabinet decision.
The resettlement plan is intended to permanently move communities considered vulnerable to landslides away from high-risk areas.
The government’s decision comes amid recurring landslides in the Mount Elgon sub-region, where communities living on steep slopes face heightened risks during periods of heavy rainfall.
The initial Shs62 billion allocation will therefore target households identified as being at very high risk, while the proposed Shs190.044 billion supplementary funding would cater for the additional 10,558 households in high-risk areas.
