Landslide survivors in Kiryandongo want more support

GERALD MATEMBU

Landslide survivors who were resettled in Kiryandongo have appealed to government for more support.

Their leader Robert Welekha told the area leaders during a meeting with the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda that they are in a state of economic vulnerability in addition to inadequate social amenities, which has made life difficult in Kiryandongo.

Government resettled over 600 households in Kiryandongo following the 2010 mudslides that claimed hundreds of lives.

Each of the survivors was to get 2.5 acres of land, a permanent house, a heifer, in addition to social facilities such as hospitals and schools as per the plan.

Seven years down the road, Welekha, says that most of the promises made by government have not been fulfilled.

"Out of 603 families that were relocated in 2010, only 280 have got houses, the rest are sleeping in temporary structures," Welekha said.

Social amenities such as schools and health facilities are overstretched by the high number of settlers

"Our children are getting wasted because they have nowhere to go after primary. We need a secondary school and a vocational school," he said.

Welekha added that much as the people would like to remain in Kiryandongo in fear of the disaster back home, such conditions have forced some of their colleagues to return to the risky areas in Bududa.

Rugunda pledged government's commitment to address the gaps which were identified.

Byte

"The process is still on and soon we will address all those issues," Rugunda said.