By Aaron Okotel
SIRONKO
Government has started verifying households in landslide-prone areas of Sironko District ahead of payment of Shs18 million to each household willing to relocate to safer areas.
The verification exercise, that commenced on Tuesday 3rd November led by the Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development, Simon Mulongo, is aimed at ensuring that only genuine victims benefit from the relocation programme and preventing possible corruption and fraudulent claims.
The relocation programme, that initially promised the identified households Shs10 million each and two acres of land at the Bunambutye resettlement camp, has been transformed into a cash compensation arrangement, with each household expected to receive Shs18 million.
The minister and a team comprising district administrators, security personnel, the District Police Commander (DPC), Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and disaster management officials visited households in three wards of Gombe, Bugiboni and Kisali in Bigitimwa sub county to establish the rightful beneficiaries.
Mulongo cautioned residents against individuals discouraging them from accepting the government programme, saying some were allegedly being used by political actors to frustrate government interventions.
“Those telling you to reject the President’s directive are using you to play their cards,” the minister said, urging eligible households to embrace the relocation initiative.
Geoffrey Wamanyala, Sironko District Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and disaster preparedness officer, said the district had mapped and identified residents living in high-risk areas across several sub-counties.
The mapping exercise covered Kikobero, Bugitimwa, Butandiga, Gombe-Gasawa, Busulani, Bulegenya, Masaba, Zesui and Buchambi sub-counties.
Wamanyala said the district generated a list of 1,645 people considered highly vulnerable and submitted it to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) after sensitising them about the dangers of remaining in landslide-prone areas.
He said Zesui, Gombe-Gasawa, Masaba and Buchambi sub-counties had the highest vulnerability index, although some residents continued to resist relocation.
Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the relocation programme, saying it would help protect their lives from landslides and mudslides.
