By Weswa Ronnie
BULAMBULI
It’s been over a year with months since the government, under the Office of the Prime Minister, promised to develop infrastructure at the Kataa Resettlement Camp in Bunambutye, Bulambuli district while resettling over 600 households.
The camp, which is part of the larger Bunambutye government resettlement area, hosts over 600 households relocated from disaster-prone districts of Bugisu, including Bududa, Manafwa, and Namisindwa.
Ben Makomu, Chairperson of the Kataa Resettlement Camp, highlighted the struggles of the residents during the Tuesday, 4th November, 2025 donation drive by Relief Humanity First Uganda, a non-governmental organization.
Makomu stated that the camp lacks essential social infrastructure, including a school, health center, church, and proper roads. Residents are forced to travel over 10 kilometers to access these services at the neighboring Wangutusi camp, where disaster victims were resettled six years ago.
The lack of infrastructure has had a significant impact on the residents, particularly school-going children. Makomu noted that over 700 children are out of school, with many girls abandoning their education due to the long distances they need to travel.
He says expectant mothers also struggle to access medical services, and the community lacks clean water, forcing them to use water from nearby swamps shared with animals.
Sam Walimbwa, a resident, added that the situation has become unbearable, with over 80 families returning to their original homes in Bududa, Namisindwa and Manafwa due to the government’s failure to fulfill its promises.
The victims have threatened to join their colleagues by going back to the risk prone areas as the only solution if their demands are not met by the end of the year.
Amos Baraza, the Bulambuli district Vice Chairperson, stated that the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness has taken charge of the Bunambutye resettlement camp, and the district cannot implement social infrastructure projects without central government approval.
Annet Nadundu, the LCV chairperson of Bulambuli district says that they have written letters to Prime Minister’s Office but they have paid a deaf ear.
“As a district, we are unable to put a school, roads and health facilities in any of those camps because it’s the responsibility of the Office of the Prime Minister,” Nandudu said.
Engineer Abdul Ssenfuka Maalick, Director of Relief Humanity First Uganda, urged other organizations to support the disaster victims, saying they donated items like blankets, clothes, Jerrycans, soap among others worth 10 million shillings.
