Ghost beneficiaries and extortion expose flaws in Bugisu landslide relocation plan

The Ugandan government’s emergency effort to relocate families living in landslide-prone areas of the Bugisu sub-region has encountered major hurdles, including inflated lists and ghost beneficiaries. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, leading a team of ministers camped in the region on President Museveni’s orders, revealed that the initial beneficiary figure of 13,000 families was reduced to about 8,000 following verification exercises in Namisindwa, Bududa, Bulambuli, and Sironko.

Authorities discovered that ineligible individuals had found their way onto the lists, with some paying bribes or being added illicitly by Gombolola Internal Security Officers (Gisos) who acted as enumerators. Prime Minister Nabbanja warned that the government will take firm action against those responsible for the irregularities, emphasizing that saving lives from looming disasters remains the top priority as heavy rains threaten the region.

Under the new resettlement initiative, the government has set aside Shs43 billion to disburse Shs18 million to each qualifying household to facilitate self-relocation. However, the plan faces resistance from residents citing cultural attachments, burial grounds, and concerns that the financial package is inadequate to purchase new land and replace mature agricultural crops like coffee. Additionally, some residents worry about the immediate loss of livelihood and the logistics of moving large families.

To prevent reoccupation, the government has announced that the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) will take over the vacated land to integrate it into Mt Elgon National Park. Beneficiary homes will be demolished once the funds are disbursed, though families have been granted a grace period until December 31 to harvest existing crops. Leaders like Mbale City Woman MP Lydia Wanyoto and Bududa District Chairperson Geoffrey Natubu have urged residents to embrace the exercise, stressing that mitigating the risk of fatal landslides outweighs cultural and agricultural attachments to the dangerous slopes.

Read the original story on the Daily Monitor.