Experts warn of floods in resettlement areas
May 30, 2010
THE land in Bunambutye sub-county, Sironko district, where the Government plans to relocate over 10,000 people displaced by the Bududa landslides, is prone to water logging, experts have said.
By Daniel Edyegu
THE land in Bunambutye sub-county, Sironko district, where the Government plans to relocate over 10,000 people displaced by the Bududa landslides, is prone to water logging, experts have said.
The Government is considering purchasing over 11,000 acres from about 30 people in Buikonge sub-county and another 2,000 acres in Bunambutye sub-county belonging to Bugisu Co-operative Union. Each acre is projected to cost between sh800,000 and sh1m.
Annunciata Hakuza, the food security officer at the agricultural ministry, explained that whereas the land is fertile, it is located in the lowlands and not suitable for human settlement.
“This land is located amidst hills and the water table is low. This means that when it rains heavily in the mountains, the lowlands flood. It will also be difficult to dig pit-latrines as the soils will become soggy. The land is only good for cattle grazing,†Hakuza said.
A team of experts, comprising agronomists, geologists, environmentalists, security personnel and officials from the Prime Minister’s office on Thursday toured the proposed resettlement areas to ascertain their suitability for human settlement.
However, in Bunambutye sub-county, the officials could not explore deeper into the land as water levels rose waist-deep in some areas.
Geoffrey Khauka, the Bunambutye LC3 chairman, explained that the land is occasionally flooded as it is close to Atari River that originates from Mt. Elgon.
“When it rains heavily, the river bursts its banks and the land floods. If the Government intends to resettle people here, proper drainage channels must be built to drain away the excess water,†Khauka said.
The resettlement of the displaced people, who are temporarily residing at Bulucheke camp in Bududa district, is expected to be concluded next month.
THE land in Bunambutye sub-county, Sironko district, where the Government plans to relocate over 10,000 people displaced by the Bududa landslides, is prone to water logging, experts have said.
The Government is considering purchasing over 11,000 acres from about 30 people in Buikonge sub-county and another 2,000 acres in Bunambutye sub-county belonging to Bugisu Co-operative Union. Each acre is projected to cost between sh800,000 and sh1m.
Annunciata Hakuza, the food security officer at the agricultural ministry, explained that whereas the land is fertile, it is located in the lowlands and not suitable for human settlement.
“This land is located amidst hills and the water table is low. This means that when it rains heavily in the mountains, the lowlands flood. It will also be difficult to dig pit-latrines as the soils will become soggy. The land is only good for cattle grazing,†Hakuza said.
A team of experts, comprising agronomists, geologists, environmentalists, security personnel and officials from the Prime Minister’s office on Thursday toured the proposed resettlement areas to ascertain their suitability for human settlement.
However, in Bunambutye sub-county, the officials could not explore deeper into the land as water levels rose waist-deep in some areas.
Geoffrey Khauka, the Bunambutye LC3 chairman, explained that the land is occasionally flooded as it is close to Atari River that originates from Mt. Elgon.
“When it rains heavily, the river bursts its banks and the land floods. If the Government intends to resettle people here, proper drainage channels must be built to drain away the excess water,†Khauka said.
The resettlement of the displaced people, who are temporarily residing at Bulucheke camp in Bududa district, is expected to be concluded next month.