In 2020, more than 3,500 families in Buliisa were displaced after floods submerged their homes and destroyed property worth millions of shillings at various landing sites.
More than 3,500 families whose
homes were submerged by floods in Buliisa district have renewed calls demanding compensation or resettlement.
In 2020, more than 3,500 families
in Buliisa were displaced after floods submerged their homes and destroyed
property worth millions of shillings at various landing sites.
The most affected were from
Wanseko, Katanga, Masaka landing sites in Kigwera Sub-County and Kawaibanda,
Butiaba, Boma, Kigangaizi, Tugombili in Butiaba town council, Walukuba, Bugoigo,
Kamagongoro, Kigungu, Serule, Piida, Waisoki, Triangle and Magali in Butiaba
sub-county, Kabolwa and Kigoya landing sites in Buliisa sub-county.
The victims were then accommodated in
churches, schools, and under trees while others erected makeshift structures.
In 2021, Robinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister rushed to the area to assess the magnitude and degree
of destruction caused by the floods. She assured the victims that the government
would compensate and resettle them.
Nabbanja then explained that the
government was profiling all flood-affected persons in the district for their
resettlement.
She tasked leaders in Buliisa
district to work closely with her office to ensure that the resettlement plan was worked on.
However close to three years now,
the flood victims have never been resettled nor compensated.
Speaking to Uganda Radio Network,
some of the flood victims wondered why the government abandoned them despite being
registered for compensation.
Moses Kiiza, one of the flood
victims says many families that resorted to renting after floods raided their
homes have run out of money adding that some landlords have started evicting them.
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Fredrick Wathum, a resident of
Kisansya village in Buliisa town council says, after being registered by the
government, they thought they would be compensated or resettled but to date
nothing has been done.
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Jasper Tibimanya, the defense
secretary at Wanseko landing site in Wanseko town council says, most affected
families have lost trust in the government. He says the only assistance that
the government offered them was 4kgs of Posho and four cups of beans and since
then, no other assistance has been offered.
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Tom Kaahwa, another victim says to date, life has become miserable for them wondering why the government has abandoned them. He says despite several appeals made to the government,
they are yet to get any redress.
He says after the water levels reduced, they attempted to re-occupy their dilapidated homes but they were blocked by the government.
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Kamanda Kabagambe, the Buliisa sub-county LCIII Chairperson wonders why the government has neglected the flood victims
in Buliisa.
Fred Lukumu, the Buliisa LCV
Chairperson says that they registered
and profiled all the flood victims and forwarded their details to the office of
the prime minister-OPM but to date, they have not received any response.
Billy Rwothungeyo, Africa Media
Officer at Minority Rights Group International has tasked the government to immediately
intervene by ensuring that the victims are compensated and resettled.
He says
by not compensating or resettling the victims, they feel neglected and
abandoned in their own country, yet they even pay taxes to the government.
