news 6 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
1,423 Elgon Families to Receive Shs18 Million Each for Landslide Relocation
The Ugandan Cabinet has approved a Shs62 billion resettlement program that will provide Shs18 million to each of 1,423 households living in high-risk landslide areas around Mount Elgon, enabling them to relocate to safer ground. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/1-423-elgon-families-to-get-shs18m-each-for-relocation-5622124
The Ugandan government is set to relocate 1,423 households from the Mount Elgon region due to the extreme risk of landslides. In a significant move aimed at preventing further loss of life and property, the Cabinet has sanctioned Shs18 million for each of these families to facilitate their move to safer areas.
This financial package is part of a broader Shs62 billion national resettlement program. Each of the targeted households will receive Shs8 million to purchase land and an additional Shs10 million for housing construction. The government has already identified and approved the purchase of over 2,200 acres of land for this purpose, at an estimated cost of Shs8.87 billion.
Beneficiaries who choose the government’s land acquisition option will be allocated two acres. Crucially, these families must permanently vacate their current high-risk dwellings and hand over the land to the government. This land will then be managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, a measure designed to prevent people from returning to vulnerable slopes.
The Mount Elgon area, particularly districts like Bududa, has a tragic history of devastating landslides. These natural disasters have repeatedly destroyed communities, infrastructure, and agricultural land, displacing thousands over the years. Despite previous relocation efforts, challenges such as dependence on fertile soils and reluctance to leave ancestral land have persisted.
While this initial phase targets the most at-risk households, the government acknowledges that an additional 10,558 households also require resettlement, estimated to cost Shs190 billion. Funds for this expansion will be sought through a supplementary budget. The Office of the Prime Minister, in conjunction with the Internal Security Organisation and local government structures, will oversee the program and monitor the proper utilization of the funds.