Published on 07/11/2025
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured families displaced by landslides in Bulambuli District of a safe, dignified, and permanent resettlement, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting communities living in disaster-prone areas along the Mt. Elgon slopes.
Addressing supporters during an NRM campaign rally at Nabbongo Secondary School playground in Bulambuli on Thursday, President Museveni said government had already allocated 2,000 acres of land for the resettlement of affected families, with each household set to receive two acres and ten million shillings to help them rebuild their lives. He added that government had also earmarked fifty billion shillings to purchase more land for those still living in temporary camps.
“The families are waiting to be resettled on 2,000 acres. Each family is to have two acres and 10 million shillings. And there is 50 billion shillings to buy more land. That’s the current arrangement,” President Museveni told the gathering.
The President’s assurance comes at a critical time when recent landslides in neighbouring districts such as Kween and Sironko have claimed lives and destroyed homes, underscoring the urgency of relocating people from high-risk mountain slopes. The Mt. Elgon sub-region remains one of Uganda’s most landslide-prone areas due to steep terrain, heavy rainfall, and deforestation.
President Museveni reminded residents that the relocation policy is a lifesaving measure informed by science and experience.
He likened deforestation and settlement on unstable slopes to “undressing Mother Nature,” warning that destroying vegetation weakens the soil and exposes entire communities to danger.
“When you see your mother naked, you’re already in danger,” he said.
“We discouraged you from undressing Mother Nature through destroying forests and trees, which hold the soil together. Once you cut the trees, especially on steep land, the soil is washed away.”
The President reflected on past disasters, recalling his visit to Nametsi village in Bududa District in March 2010 after a massive landslide buried the entire community, killing hundreds of people and displacing thousands.
“I went myself to Nametsi in Bududa, where the whole village had been buried. It was terrible—as if the country had no people of knowledge. Now that people know the danger, we are going to work full steam to get people out of danger,” he said.
Since that tragedy, government has intensified efforts to relocate families living in hazardous zones.
The Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hon. Hilary Onek, who accompanied the President, reported that progress was being made in resettling the affected communities. He said 2,661 acres of land had already been secured in Bulambuli, with the recently allocated Shs50 billion to be used to buy additional land.
“Our ministry has managed to rescue those from the disaster area; most of them are now kept in the settlement camps waiting for relocation to land,” Hon. Onek said.
President Museveni emphasized that the goal is to prevent disasters before they occur.
“The plan is to get out of danger before time. There are certain parts of the mountains where people should not settle. It is dangerous for them, for the future, and for the country,” he said.
Beyond relocation, the President said government would continue supporting families to rebuild their livelihoods. He announced that Bulambuli will benefit from the national cattle restocking programme, where households in Lango, Teso, and Acholi are each receiving five cattle, assuring residents that Bulambuli and Ngenge in Kween will be treated the same way.
The President also spoke about the NRM government’s long-term agenda of peace, development, and wealth creation.
He said the peace secured over the past decades has allowed government to invest in infrastructure, education, and health services, especially in the Elgon sub-region.
He noted that while Bulambuli still faces gaps in service delivery—such as parishes without government schools and sub-counties lacking health centres—plans are underway to bridge those gaps.
“The policy is clear—one government primary school per parish and one secondary school per sub-county,” he said, adding that more health facilities would also be constructed and upgraded.
Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among, who joined the rally, praised the President’s steadfast commitment to the welfare of Ugandans and called on residents to rally behind him in the forthcoming elections.
“We have brought you a leader who listens to everyone in Uganda and solves their problems. Your Excellency, you are the hope of the people—you brought these people from despair to hope,” she said.
Among also pledged to ensure fairness in compensation for affected families.
“Some people were paid and others were not. We are going to verify the numbers to ensure those who were not paid receive their compensation,” she said.
Local NRM leaders from Bulambuli and the wider Elgon region thanked President Museveni for prioritizing disaster preparedness and investing in community resilience. They pointed to government projects such as the Acomai Irrigation Scheme, which serves both Bulambuli and Bukedea, as evidence of the NRM government’s inclusive development approach.
President Museveni reiterated that no Ugandan should lose their life to preventable disasters.
“We are not going to wait for another Nametsi to happen. We must protect our people before danger comes,” he said.
