Kampala, October 20, 2026 — The government has reaffirmed its commitment to relocating communities living in landslide-prone areas of the Bugisu Sub-region following a crisis meeting between Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and regional leaders.
The meeting brought together Members of Parliament, Local Council V (LCV) chairpersons and other leaders from Bugisu, who expressed concern over the safety of residents living in high-risk areas amid ongoing rains.
The leaders warned that the prevailing weather conditions had heightened the threat of landslides, calling for urgent government intervention to prevent further loss of lives and destruction of property.
Prime Minister Nabbanja assured the delegation that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was fully aware of the situation and that the relocation programme remained a government priority.
“The relocation programme is 100 per cent alive,” Nabbanja told the leaders, reaffirming the government’s commitment to addressing the longstanding challenge facing vulnerable communities.
Government Sets Shs18 Million Compensation
Among the key resolutions reached at the meeting is a plan to provide Shs18 million per eligible household to facilitate the relocation of residents from high-risk areas.
According to the resolutions, beneficiaries will be expected to vacate the danger zones immediately after receiving payment. Houses in the affected areas will subsequently be demolished to prevent residents from returning to locations considered unsafe.
The meeting also resolved that vacated areas would be handed over to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
In addition, the government will conduct a fresh verification exercise to identify and remove ineligible beneficiaries from the relocation lists, a move intended to ensure that compensation reaches the intended households.
The payment and compensation exercise is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in Namisindwa District, under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
The resolutions mark a renewed effort to accelerate relocation as regional leaders press for immediate action to protect communities exposed to recurring landslide disasters.
Bugisu’s History of Landslide Disasters
The Bugisu Sub-region has experienced repeated landslides over several decades, with Bududa and Sironko among the areas that have suffered devastating consequences.
Historical accounts from Bagisu elders trace incidents back to the 1930s, with further events reported in 1954, 1983 and 1997.
On March 1, 2010, a major landslide struck Nametsi in Bududa District, leaving more than 100 people confirmed dead, hundreds reported missing or buried, and approximately 8,000 people displaced, according to the historical figures provided.
Other reported incidents include a landslide in Masaba, Sironko District, in August 2017, which claimed seven lives and displaced hundreds, and the October 11, 2018, disaster in Suume, Bukalasi Sub-county, Bududa District, which reportedly killed more than 42 people and displaced about 500.
Prolonged rains in December 2019 also affected hundreds of households in the Mbale and Bududa areas. Further landslides reported in Bududa and Sironko between 2019 and 2020 claimed additional lives.
The recurring disasters have strengthened calls for a sustainable relocation programme to protect residents living on unstable slopes.
Resettlement Efforts Face Challenges
Government initiated a resettlement programme at Bunambutye in Bulambuli District after acquiring approximately 2,800 acres of land in 2013.
However, progress has remained limited, with about 300 families reportedly resettled in phases in 2019, 2020 and 2022, leaving many other households in landslide-prone areas awaiting relocation.
Some residents have been reluctant to leave their ancestral land, while concerns about living conditions at previous resettlement destinations, including Kiryandongo, have reportedly contributed to resistance.
The renewed commitment is expected to address these challenges by combining compensation with a fresh verification exercise and the immediate relocation of eligible households from dangerous areas.
Lydia Wanyoto Urges Residents to Embrace Relocation
Hon. Lydia Wanyoto Mutende, the Mbale City Woman Member of Parliament and State Minister for Public Service, has appealed to residents living in landslide-prone areas to embrace the relocation programme to protect their lives and those of their families.
Wanyoto’s appeal comes as leaders push for urgent measures to prevent further tragedies during the rainy season.
With compensation payments expected to commence in Namisindwa, attention now turns to the government’s implementation of the agreed resolutions, the verification of beneficiaries and the provision of safe alternatives for affected households.
For communities that have endured repeated landslide disasters, the success of the renewed programme will depend on timely compensation, effective coordination and the availability of safe and sustainable resettlement options.
