President promises land, cash, and social services as government accelerates relocation of Mt. Elgon landslide victims
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has vowed to deliver a dignified and permanent resettlement for landslide victims in Bulambuli District, promising land, cash support, and new infrastructure as part of a government plan to protect disaster-prone communities in the Mt. Elgon sub-region.
Background: A Region Haunted by Landslides
For decades, Uganda’s Mt. Elgon region has been plagued by deadly landslides that have devastated families and communities in Bududa, Manafwa, Sironko, and Bulambuli.
The disasters—fueled by deforestation, climate change, and human settlement on steep slopes—have left hundreds dead and thousands displaced.
In response, the government launched a large-scale relocation programme to move families from danger zones to safer, fertile plains.
The Bunambutye Resettlement Project in Bulambuli has since become the flagship model, offering permanent homes, farmland, and community facilities for affected families.
President Museveni’s latest visit to the district reaffirmed this policy, linking it with the NRM’s broader development agenda as campaigns for the 2026 elections intensify.
Museveni: “Every Family Will Be Resettled with Dignity”
Addressing a jubilant crowd at Nabbongo Secondary School playground, President Museveni pledged a fair and complete relocation process for all families displaced by landslides.
“The families are waiting to be resettled on 2,000 acres. Each family is to have two acres and 10 million shillings. And there is 50 billion shillings to buy more land. That’s the current arrangement,” he said.
The President explained that relocation was based on scientific and environmental evidence showing the danger of living on steep, deforested slopes.
“When you see your mother naked, you’re already in danger,” he warned.
“We discouraged you from undressing Mother Nature through destroying forests and trees, which hold the soil together. Once you cut the trees, especially on steep land, the soil is washed away.”
Museveni recalled visiting Nametsi village in Bududa District in 2010, after a landslide buried hundreds alive.
“I went myself to Nametsi in Bududa, where the whole village had been buried. It was terrible—as if the country had no people of knowledge. Now that people know the danger, we are going to work full steam to get people out of danger,” he said.
“The plan is to get out of danger before time. There are parts of the mountains where people should not settle. It is dangerous for them, for the future, and for the country.”
Minister Onek Reports Progress on Relocation
Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hon. Hilary Onek, who accompanied the President, said the government had secured land and funds to continue the resettlement exercise.
“Our ministry has managed to rescue those from the disaster area; most of them are now kept in the settlement camps waiting for relocation to land,” he said.
“We have so far got 2,661 acres of land here, where we have started settling the families that are in the Bunambutye Resettlement Camp. Currently, we have 50 billion shillings to be used to buy more land to settle more families in Bulambutye.”
Cattle Restocking and Economic Support
President Museveni also announced that Bulambuli would benefit from the ongoing national cattle restocking programme.
“It is therefore fair not to leave out Bulambuli and Ngenge in Kween. Not all parts of Bugisu and Sebei, but some parts that we know will be treated the same way,” he said, promising to ensure fair coverage for affected sub-counties.
NRM Manifesto Commitments: Peace, Roads, and Schools
The President used the rally to showcase the achievements of his government over the last four decades, particularly in peace, infrastructure, and social services.
“You people of Bulambuli are witnesses of peace,” he said. “I remember there was a woman councillor of Mbale District, Rose Muloni—later Minister Irene Muloni’s sister—who told me about the suffering caused by cattle rustlers. But all that is now history.”
He said peace had laid the groundwork for massive infrastructure improvement.
“The road from Mbale all the way to Karamoja is now tarmacked. The road from Kapchorwa is also tarmacked,” he said.
“For Bulambuli, you don’t have good marram roads because of volcanic soils. I suggested long ago that we bring stones from Karuma power station to make your roads better.”
Museveni reaffirmed the government’s education policy of “one primary school per parish and one secondary school per sub-county.”
“Similarly, sub-counties without government secondary schools will get one. The policy is clear,” he said.
Currently, Bulambuli has 54 government primary schools serving 123 parishes, leaving 69 parishes without a government facility. Three new secondary schools are under construction to close the gap.
Health Infrastructure Expansion
The President further pledged to upgrade and build new health centres across Bulambuli.
“We need a Health Centre IV per constituency and a Health Centre III per sub-county,” he said.
He listed Atari, Bugudoi, and Nabiwutulu as some of the health centres due for upgrading, while new units will be built in Buyaga, Bufumbo, Bulegeni, Muyembe, and Bunalwere.
“All the above are in our manifesto,” he emphasized.
“Development like roads and electricity is for all of us, but wealth is mine as an individual or a family. It is dangerous for people to emphasize development and forget wealth.”**
Wealth Creation Through PDM and OWC
Museveni urged residents to embrace the government’s wealth creation initiatives, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), and Emyooga.
Bulambuli District has received Shs 37.7 billion under PDM, with 99.8% disbursed to 38,846 households out of 55,103, representing 70.5% coverage.
“The remaining 29.5% of households will also be reached,” the President assured. “The aim is for every household to join the money economy.”
Speaker Among Calls for Continued Support
Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among urged Bulambuli residents to re-elect President Museveni, praising his record of peace and national unity.
“We have brought you a candidate who believes in politics of interest, not of identity,” she said.
“He is a national leader who listens to everyone in Uganda and solves their problems. Your Excellency, you are the hope of the people—you brought these people from despair to hope.”
Among also promised to ensure fair compensation for all landslide victims.
“Some people were paid and others were not. We are going to verify the numbers to ensure those who were not paid receive their compensation,” she said.
She hailed the Acomai Irrigation Scheme—commissioned by the President a day earlier—as a symbol of government’s ongoing investment in Eastern Uganda.
Local Leaders Applaud, Demand More
NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Region, Echodu Calvin, thanked the President for his engagement and called for affirmative action for Bulambuli’s vulnerable communities.
District NRM Chairperson Kimamati Paul Michael praised the government for injecting Shs 180 billion into Bulambuli over the past five years.
He, however, requested the upgrading of Muyembe Health Centre IV to a district hospital, elevation of Bunyanya HCIII to HCIV, and upgrading of six HCII facilities.
He also proposed the establishment of Bugisu University in Mbale to serve the Elgon sub-region.
Bulambuli’s Electoral Profile
According to the 2024 census, Bulambuli District has 235,391 residents across 26 sub-counties and town councils, 123 parishes, and 1,313 villages.
In the 2021 presidential elections, Museveni won 76.4% of the 52,560 votes cast.
Voter registration has since risen to 79,699 across 257 polling stations, reflecting growing political participation.
The event was attended by several ministers, Members of Parliament, and NRM flag bearers from across the Elgon sub-region, marking one of the largest campaign rallies in Eastern Uganda this year.
