150,000 iron sheets needed to resettle Bundibugyo IDPs

A total of 150,000 iron sheets are required to resettle families that were displaced by the tribal clashes between the Bamba and Bakonjo in Bundibugyo district.

This is after President Museveni said that government would buy building materials for all the victims that whose houses were destroyed during the clashes that left over 40 people dead and a total of 600 houses destroyed.

Geoffrey Mucunguzi the Resident District Commissioner Bundibugyo said that some of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) whose houses were not totally destroyed have since gone back to their homes.

"Over 200 people are still in the camp out of the 8000 that had gone there. These ones remaining are those who completely have nowhere to go because their homes were totally destroyed during the clashes" Mucunguzi said.

According to the RDC, his office has so far received a total of 5,000 iron sheets from the Office of the Prime Minister.

"The first bunch of the iron sheets has been received and we are to give 30 iron sheets to each vulnerable household. We shall start with 80 homes from Bugyendera County and also 80 other homes from Bwamba County" Mucunguzi said.

He was speaking during the launch of the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) program in Bundibugyo district.

Tiddi Murangira one of the beneficiaries after receiving his money. Photo by Rogers Sunday

Under the program, government pays sh25,000 to senior citizens every month as direct support income as a social protection instrument to address poverty and vulnerability.

Kamanda Bataringaya the minister of Gender, Labor and Social Development said that a total of 100 people from each sub county of Bundibugyo have been carefully selected to benefit from the program.

"The program is intended to improve the welfare of older people and their families through increased food security and better nutrition" Bataringaya said.

The minister stated that a total of 20 districts are currently benefiting from the program.

Biira Bamwitirebye one of the elders who was enrolled on the SAGE program. Photo by Rogers Sunday

Older persons cue up to receive their cash. Photo by Rogers Sunday

He disclosed that government is working towards developing a comprehensive social protection system for the country.

Thomas Kamuhanda the deputy Prime Minister for the Bwamba cultural institution called upon the youths to change their lifestyles if they are to benefit from the program.

"Am scared that most of our youth may not live longer to benefit from such programs because of the reckless lifestyles they are living" Kamuhanda said.