Landslide victims blocked from Bunambutye land

Bulambuli. Police in Bulambuli District on Saturday blocked a group of landslide victims from Bududa District who were on their way to visit and tour Bunambutye land on which government is set to relocate and resettle them.
The victims’ visit, which was organised and facilitated by the Institute of Development Innovation (TRIDI) in partnership with Elgon Thinkers Forum (ETF), was blocked a kilometre away from the land. Mr Fred Kayongera, the officer-in-charge of Cheptui Police Station, commanded the operation.
Mr Kayongera told the victims and their leaders that he had been instructed by the district police commander, Mr Alfonse Musoni, not to allow them to proceed to the said land.
There was an altercation between police officers and victims that lasted for three hours with the latter accusing the former of being unprofessional and inconsiderate about their current situation.
The more than 100 victims, who were being ferried on trucks, were part of the displaced residents in Bukalasi Sub-county where mudslides occurred, leaving 43 dead after River Tsuume burst its banks on October 11.
“We are only visiting the land, which is our land. We are not criminals but I wonder why we are being blocked for no genuine reason,” Mr Paul Wanzala, one of the victims, said.
Mr Wanzala explained that their visit was to confirm the availability of the land, its fertility and location so that when they go back, they can be in position to persuade other victims who are still hesitant on relocating to Bulambuli.
“We wanted to get information about the land and be in position to persuade other colleagues who have not changed their mindset about relocation plan, but now they have left us with no option,” he said.
The government in 2014 secured about 2,800 acres of land in Bunambutye in Bulambuli District, where the landslide victims are meant to be relocated and resettled. However, the land is in contention.
Mr Clet Wandui Masiga, the executive director TRIDI, said the tour was apart of the activities towards supporting the implementation of the resettlement plan.
“We wrote to the Prime Minister about the visit and he knows it’s fully supportive of government efforts in resettlement process,” he said.