Residents in the Mount Elgon sub-region have expressed mixed reactions to the Government’s plan to provide Shs18 million to each verified household living in landslide-prone areas to facilitate their relocation to safer locations.
While some residents have welcomed the initiative as an opportunity to escape the dangers of landslides, others say the proposed payment may not be enough to purchase land, construct new homes and rebuild livelihoods disrupted by relocation.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has directed households living in high-risk areas to relocate as the Government begins verifying families eligible for the resettlement programme.
In a communication shared by the Office of the Prime Minister, Nabbanja and several ministers briefed the media on the ongoing verification exercise targeting households at risk of landslides in the Bugisu sub-region.
The officials said the verification process would establish the households eligible to receive resettlement packages before the Government begins distributing the funds.
The Government has allocated Shs62 billion to the programme, with each verified household expected to receive a one-off payment of Shs18 million to support relocation.
The initiative is intended to protect communities living in areas vulnerable to landslides, a recurring danger in parts of the Mount Elgon region, where heavy rains can trigger destructive soil movements.
However, the amount has raised questions about whether the proposed financial assistance will adequately cover the cost of securing land, building houses and restoring sources of income in new locations.
For families whose livelihoods depend on farming and access to their existing land, relocation could also mean losing established agricultural activities, social networks and other essential support systems.
The verification exercise is therefore expected to play a crucial role in identifying eligible households and guiding the implementation of the programme.
The Office of the Prime Minister has thanked residents in landslide-prone areas for embracing the initiative and urged them to continue cooperating with the Government’s efforts to protect lives.
As the programme progresses, its success will depend not only on the timely delivery of the resettlement funds but also on whether affected families can secure safe land and establish sustainable livelihoods in their new locations.
