The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Bududa, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Bududa landslide victims are urging the government to prioritize the construction of physical housing structures in its resettlement plan rather than providing cash payments.
In a petition to the Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Relief, and Refugees, Ms. Lilian Aber, local leaders expressed concerns that some individuals have already misappropriated the 10 million shillings and 7 million shillings disbursed to them four months ago.
This issue was raised during a meeting between Minister Aber and local leaders on Thursday in Bududa District, aimed at initiating the resettlement of 242 landslide victims from Bududa District to Bunambutya in Bulambuli District.
The relocation plan involves moving over 1,650 people to Bulambuli, where the government has prepared 2 acres of land. Each household will receive 17 million shillings, with 10 million provided by the government of Uganda and 7 million from Give Directly International, to facilitate a smooth transition.
Kutosi Clement, Vice Chairperson of Bukibino Sub-county in Bududa District, criticized the distribution of the 7 million shillings from Give Directly, claiming that it was done discriminately, leaving out some of the real victims since 2018. Masaba Willison from Lugana Subcounty added that Give Directly International did not reach some areas in the subcounty, as they failed to consult with local leaders during the payout process.
Nabulo Recheal, Vice Chairperson of Bududa District, noted that many residents have already spent the money and are now seeking government intervention to provide them with physical houses.
In response, Minister Lilian Aber dismissed the petition as a politically motivated excuse aimed at gaining cheap popularity. “The government of Uganda, following a presidential directive, chose to provide cash instead of constructing houses because it was deemed a faster and more efficient response,” Aber explained.
Aber also announced that a team from the Office of the Prime Minister is already in Bududa to begin the relocation process starting Monday, August 19th. She added that victims who have opened wallet accounts with Post Bank Uganda will receive their payments within a week.
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