Daniel Mugula
Tuesday, 6 October 2026
KAMPALA — Government has set aside Shs190 billion in a supplementary budget to resettle 10,558 households living in high-risk landslide areas in the Mount Elgon sub-region.
Minister Lumumba Justine Kasule
The funds are part of a wider government programme to relocate communities living in areas prone to mudslides and landslides, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and El Niño-related weather conditions.
The resettlement programme will be implemented by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in collaboration with the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), local governments and Parish Development Model (PDM) structures.
Minister of ICT and National Guidance Lumumba Justine kasule told journalists at the Uganda Media Centre that government had earlier approved Shs62 billion for the OPM to facilitate the resettlement of landslide victims in the Mount Elgon sub-region.
However, the programme faced challenges after government failed to secure enough land to accommodate all the affected households.
The OPM subsequently returned to Cabinet with alternative proposals for resettling the remaining households.
Cabinet approved the purchase of 2,217.66 acres of land at an estimated cost of Shs8.87 billion. The land has since been identified and subjected to due diligence, with authorities confirming that it is suitable for resettlement.
Under the approved arrangement, households living in mapped high-risk areas will have two options.
Those who choose land will receive two acres per household, with each acre valued at Shs4 million, as well as Shs10 million to construct a house.
Alternatively, households may opt for a cash package of Shs8 million in lieu of land, together with Shs10 million for house construction.
The first phase of the programme is expected to benefit 14,103 households identified as being at the highest risk, especially those living in areas where signs of landslide activity have already been observed.
These areas have been mapped by government as particularly vulnerable to mudslides and landslides during periods of heavy rainfall.
After the 14,103 households are addressed, however, another 10,558 households living in high-risk areas will remain to be resettled. Government estimates that Shs190 billion will be required to support the relocation of this group, prompting Cabinet to direct that the funds be provided through a supplementary budget.
Authorities say the programme is aimed at moving vulnerable communities away from dangerous slopes and other landslide-prone areas to reduce the loss of lives and property during disasters.
Beneficiary households will be required to hand over their former land to government after receiving resettlement support. The land will subsequently become part of areas managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
The OPM, together with ISO, local governments and PDM structures, will monitor the implementation of the programme to ensure that the resettlement process is properly conducted and that funds and other resources provided to beneficiaries are used for their intended purposes.
Government says the programme is expected to provide a long-term solution for communities living in some of the most landslide-prone areas of the Mount Elgon sub-region.
