President Museveni has ordered the immediate resettlement of families affected by the recent landslides and those evicted by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) from park land in the Sebei Sub-region. Speaking during a campaign rally in Kween District, the President said each affected family would receive two acres of land free of charge and Shs10m to aid resettlement.
‘We will resettle them. Shs56b is already in the budget, and the money is available. We are looking for more land. That is our plan to resettle people away from the danger areas,’ he said.
Last month, multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains ravaged several rural villages in Kween, Bukwo, and Kapchorwa districts, killing 21 people and leaving 12 others missing.
More than 6,000 survivors are currently living in temporary shelters at Benet Primary School (Kween) and Chemuron Primary School (Bukwo).
Museveni emphasised the need to protect the Mt Elgon ecosystem, including its forests, lakes, and rivers, to prevent future disasters. He compared careless environmental destruction to cutting one’s nails too deep.
‘If I cut my nails, that’s fine. But if I go too deep, I start bleeding. Nature works the same way,’ he said, warning that without Mt Elgon, Rwenzori, and Kigezi hills, ‘Uganda could turn into a desert,’ he said.
Museveni also announced plans to send a team to reopen and clarify the boundary between local communities and Mt Elgon National Park, a long-standing source of conflict.
‘I sent former prime minister Rugunda to handle this, but I now know why the boundary was never opened. Some people lied to me. I will deal with them,’ he said.
Land eviction dispute
More than 660 families, containing about 7,000 people, were reportedly displaced in 2014 when UWA claimed their villages fell within a protected game reserve.
Many have since lived in makeshift camps about 500 metres from their former land in Soseti Village, Nyiliti Parish, Sundeti Sub-county.
Mr Alex Lukhanda Natembeya, one of those displaced, recounted their ordeal.
‘UWA officials attacked us at night, destroyed our crops, beat us, and demolished everything. For 11 years we’ve lived like refugees in our own motherland. Families have broken apart,’ he said. Museveni expressed dismay over reports of brutality during the eviction.
‘Why beat people instead of arresting them? We will find out who is responsible. We are tired of lazy officers who don’t investigate properly,’ he said.
Corruption in Kween
Turning to corruption, the President vowed to send auditors to investigate the alleged theft of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds and other government resources in Kween District.
‘I will send auditors to investigate the stolen PDM money and other issues. The fight against corruption should be led by our elected leaders. That’s why we introduced the LC system,’ Museveni said.
Cattle compensation, development
On cattle losses suffered during past insurgencies and cattle rustling, the President assured affected families of compensation but warned against false claims.
‘We know which areas were affected. We don’t want lies,’ he said.
The President also highlighted his government’s achievements in infrastructure, health, and population growth.
He further pledged to establish a public university in the Sebei Sub-region, aligning with NRM’s policy of one public university per former independence district.