The Ugandan government has revived plans to relocate thousands of households living in landslide-prone areas of the Mount Elgon sub-region. This exercise is expected to cost over 198 billion shillings. According to Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, Cabinet has approved 8.87 billion shillings to purchase 2,217.66 acres of land for the first phase of the relocation programme. This phase will accommodate 1,423 households identified as being at the highest risk.
The identified households are those living in areas where cracks have already appeared and which authorities have mapped as vulnerable to mudslides and landslides. Under the arrangement, each beneficiary household will choose between receiving two acres of land, valued at 4 million shillings per acre, and 10 million shillings for construction of a house, or receiving 8 million shillings in cash instead of land, plus 10 million shillings for construction. This plan aims to provide a safer living environment for those at risk.
However, the initial phase will cover only a fraction of the households identified as being at risk. According to Lumumba, 10,558 additional households remain in high-risk areas and will require an estimated 190 billion shillings for resettlement. The Cabinet has directed that the money be sought through a supplementary budget. This latest commitment brings the proposed expenditure under the new phase to nearly 199 billion shillings.
The government's relocation programme dates back to the devastating landslides that hit the Elgon region, particularly the 2010 Nametsi disaster in Bududa, which killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands. Following the disaster, the government embarked on plans to move vulnerable communities from the slopes of Mount Elgon and established a resettlement site at Bunambutye in Bulambuli District.
Despite previous efforts, relocation has been slow due to challenges such as land acquisition, funding, disputes over land ownership, and resistance to leaving ancestral land. The government has continued to announce fresh interventions whenever landslides strike the region. In 2025, the Office of the Prime Minister said the government intended to resettle 12,031 households across seven districts in the Elgon sub-region.
The government has also previously used cash transfers to encourage households to leave landslide-prone areas. In 2024, selected beneficiaries in Bududa received cash to facilitate voluntary relocation, while the government continued searching for suitable land for a larger-scale resettlement programme. However, some families at previous resettlement sites have complained about delays in receiving land and other promised support.
Under the latest arrangement, beneficiaries who receive resettlement support will be required to hand over their existing land to the government. The surrendered land will become part of land managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The Office of the Prime Minister will work with local governments, the Internal Security Organisation, and Parish Development Model structures to monitor implementation and the use of the funds.
Key points
- The Ugandan government has approved 8.87 billion shillings for the first phase of the relocation programme.
- A total of 1,423 households will be relocated in the first phase.
- The overall cost of the relocation programme is estimated to be over 198 billion shillings.
