Bududa: Locals insist they should be resettled in the district

GETALD MATEMBU 

Local leaders in Bududa district have distanced themselves from plans by the Office of the Prime Minister to resettle their people in Bulambuli district.

Tens of hundreds of people perished in mudslides in the district last week.

In a special council meeting at the district headquarters, the leaders said the decision was taken without their views and those of the beneficiaries.

In interviews with The Nile Post, the leaders attributed  the rush by officials from OPM to purchase land in Bulambuli to selfish interests.

In the meeting, a unanimous decision was taken to support the resettlement of people in high risk areas in Bududa to safer places within the district.

According to the leaders the option is intended to address issues of adaptability and promotion of social ties.

The people are to be resettled in peri-urban centres and reserve the hilly areas for farming and tree planting.

The councillors also resolved that people be given liberty to identify land in areas of their choice.

During his visit to Bukalasi on Sunday, President Museveni emphasised that those who do not want to go to Bulambuli can be resettled within Bududa.