OPINION

By George E. Owanyi

The Government, through the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), has released sh9b to facilitate payment of persons living in landslides/ mudslides-prone sub-counties of Bududa, such as Namesti, Bundesi, Mabono, Buwali, Buluceke, Bushiyi, Nalwanza, Bubiita and Bukalasi.

Bududa district receives high amounts of torrential rainfall throught most parts of the year. Because of this, its soils are soggy and often slide.

It is made worse by the terrain. The rain-soaked soil can’t hold and slides down the slopes.

This is why the district has turned out to be a natural disaster area with several catastrophes which have led to the loss of several lives and property.

In the past, the Government identified land in Kiryandongo and in Bulambuli districts where it built low-cost houses to resettle people from Bududa. However, this has not been successful as the resettled families moved back to Bududa citing the ancestral ties, fertile soils and so on.

This time round, the Government through the OPM, partnered with ‘Give Directly’— an international partner supporting communities affected by natural catastrophes in different parts of the world.

Working with Bududa District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC), the OPM and Give Directly early this year identified and registered 2,160 households eligible for settlement to safer zones in a phased manner.

In the first phase of the relocation programme, 846 households received sh7m cash payments from Give Directly. After a needs assessment conducted within the affected communities, they will each receive an additional acre of land in Bulambuli and a cash payment of sh10m through the Post Bank Uganda money wallet system called ‘Wendi’

President Yoweri Museveni has clearly said the Government is tired of losing lives that would otherwise be saved, if vulnerable persons responded to early warning signals and response mechanisms issued.

Already, the environment ministry has released a weather forecast indicating that areas around the Elgon region are bound to receive above-normal rainfall in the months from September to December.

The Government’s plan is to relocate vulnerable families to safer areas and thereafter gazette the evacuated land and plant trees so as to conserve the environment for future generations.

There has, however, been resentment of the programme by a section of Baduda elite. They argue that the sh17m payout is inadequate to put up a decent house on the one acre of land in Bulambuli district.

Also, they point out the harsh weather and poor soils not suitable for the growth of Arabica coffee — the major driver of Bududa money economy.

It is important to note that the move by the Government is not a ‘quid pro quo’ and the compensation is not based on the value of land previously occupied, but is only aimed at saving lives that would otherwise be lost to calamities.

There is no amount of compensation that can save the lives of a human once lost. So, it is better to avert calamities by relocation and surely human resilience kicks.

They adapt to the new environment, build homes and families, and then work and live.

Leaders at different levels must explain to the people the dangers of staying and encourage them to accept relocation.

Ideally, when one is faced with a disaster and the alarm has been raised, it is illogical not to pay heed. The right decision is to move before the disaster descends on you.

The writer is Resident District Commissioner Bududa & Member District Disaster Management Committee