Nabbanja wants more land for IDP resettlement in Kayunga

Kayunga, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has instructed Kayunga district local government to work closely with her office to conduct valuation of the land housing the internally displaced persons-IDP resettlement camp so as to purchase it.

Nabbanja made the instructions after touring Galiraya sub county were over 2,000 people were displaced by floods resulting from the rising water levels around Lake Kyoga and confirmed that it will take years for the water to recede.

Residents were mainly displaced from Ntimba and Kawongo landing sites, as well as villages of Kampatanya and Kyendiko in Galiraya sub county where houses and gardens were submerged. They are currently camping at Bbaale sub county on land belonging to Harriet Namaganda.

“I am going to send government valuers to the landlord such that we find a way of buying off at least 300 acres under phase one to designate a government fully owned resettlement camp for our people,” Nabbanja noted.

She also promised three boats to ease transport for the people who are still at the affected sub county of Garilaya smoothly cross through the flooded areas.

Water cut off the road at Ntimba and for one to cross needs a boat. Currently there is only one boat carrying about 30 people used by a population of over 1,000 residents.

The District Chairperson Joel Kayiira applauded the prime minister before revealing that they had earlier talked to the landlord who is willing to sell the land to the government to permanently resettle people.

The said land is close to one square mile with a title and the chairperson noted that the landlord is willing to sell it as a whole.

Kayiira also applauded the office of the prime minister for the relief support extended to the people.

The Office of the Prime Minister donated 1,000 bags of Sugar, 500 tarpaulins, 500 jerrycans, 500 Mosquito Nets and 500 iron sheets that were handed over the district leaders with caution to share them transparently.

Displaced residents raised concerns of limited inputs and space for carrying out farming activities for survival. Geoffrey Matovu says they were left with nothing to base on their plan for tomorrow.

Another affected, John Kalumba is worried about taking children back to school once studying resumes. The only primary school in the area of Kawongo primary school flooded.

Meanwhile, Aisha Ssekindi, the State Minister for Water and environment warned people intending to take over the disputed central reserve forest of Bbajjo, in the name of resettling the affected people.

She noted that the land is gazetted for the forest and therefore it is against the law to allow people to stay there before warning that whoever goes there shall be evicted.

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