The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Relief and Disaster Preparedness State Minister, Musa Ecweru has blasted leaders from Bugisu region for allegedly misleading government on the issues of landslide victims.
According to Ecweru, the leaders from Bugisu including Members of Parliament have been frustrating government interventions to support the mudslide victims who were relocated to Kiryandongo following the 2010 mudslides in Bududa district.
The Minister was addressing the mudslide survivors who were relocated to Panyadoli Refugees settlement in Mutunda Sub County in Kiryandongo district following the Nametsi landslides, which buried more than 100 people and displaced hundreds of others.
Government acquired 1500 acres of land in Panyadoli to resettle the 2010 Bududa Mudslide victims. Each house hold was allocated two and a half acres of land for settlement.
He explained that leaders from Bugisu have been informing the public that the survivors from 603 households that were relocated to Panyadoli Refugees settlement had escaped and returned to Bududa district, something he says is embarrassing.
Ecweru applauded the relocated victims for being hard working saying some of them have been able to construct permanent structures on their own.
He said the Office of the Prime Minister will soon release funds to construct additional houses for the mudslide survivors as planned.
Ecweru also said government will soon introduce programs like the Youth Livelihood Fund, Uganda women Entrepreneurship program -UWEP and construct additional health centers, schools and improve access roads within the settlement area.
Julius Werekha who spoke on behalf of the relocated households applauded government for the immediate intervention it took to save their lives. He also cautioned leaders from Bugisu region against misleading government that some of the relocated households had returned to Bududa district.
Edith Aliguma, the Kiryandongo LCV Vice Chairperson applauded the 2010 Bududa Landslide victims for being law abiding citizens, saying they are not involved in any kind of crime.
She however asked government to avail the district more staff in the health and education sectors to deal with the high population.
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