The cultural leader of Bugisu, Umukuuka wa Bugisu, Sir Jude Mike Mudoma, has proposed an Integrated Disaster Management Framework (IDMF) to handle the resettlement of 13,000 households living in landslide-prone areas in eastern Uganda. The government had announced plans to resettle these households, offering a one-off payment of UGX18m per household. However, Umukuuka Mudoma suggests that this approach may not yield desirable results without additional social, economic, and psychological support.
The government had initially set aside UGX62bn to resettle the households in a phased manner. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja Musafiri announced that each household would receive the one-off payment and be expected to vacate the areas within two weeks. However, those with crops reaching maturity would be allowed to return to the areas during the day to harvest their crops. The prime minister also warned that force would be used to evacuate those who do not cooperate with the arrangements.
Umukuuka Mudoma, in a letter to President Yoweri Museveni, appreciated the government's intervention but pointed out the limitations of the current approach. He proposed a supplementary Three-Year Rehabilitation Retainer Fund of UGX750,000 per quarter per household, totaling UGX9m over three years. This fund would provide additional support to households to help them recover from the shock of relocation.
The IDMF proposed by Umukuuka Mudoma maintains the primary UGX18m payout but adds a safety net to ensure that households can voluntarily vacate high-risk areas without the use of administrative force. The cultural leader emphasized that physical relocation from ancestral homes induces deep social, economic, and psychological shock, and that an immediate cash package alone cannot guarantee long-term survival.
To ensure accountability and transparency, Umukuuka Mudoma proposed strict oversight conditions for the disbursement of the Rehabilitation Retainer Fund. These conditions include verification of permanent vacation, biometric verification, and direct payouts to households, as well as conditional livelihood alignment. A quarterly Review Board would audit the disbursement rosters before releasing funds for the subsequent quarter.
Umukuuka Mudoma requested a consultative audience with President Museveni to formally present his harmonized blueprint, combining state resources with cultural ability to save lives, preserve dignity, and demonstrate compassionate leadership. The cultural leader emphasized that adjusting the recovery package to UGX750,000 per quarter paired with rigorous oversight conditions provides the government with an airtight guarantee of financial accountability.
The resettlement of households from landslide-prone areas in eastern Uganda is a critical issue that requires a comprehensive and compassionate approach. Umukuuka Mudoma's proposal offers an alternative to forceful evacuation, emphasizing the need for social, economic, and psychological support to ensure the long-term survival of the affected households.
Key points
- Umukuuka wa Bugisu proposes an Integrated Disaster Management Framework to handle the resettlement of 13,000 households from landslide-prone areas in eastern Uganda.
- The government had set aside UGX62bn to resettle the households, offering a one-off payment of UGX18m per household.
- Umukuuka Mudoma requests a consultative audience with President Museveni to discuss the finer details of his proposed framework.
