By Jumah Kakomo and Kabuye Ronald
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential candidate, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has announced the allocation of an additional UGX 50 billion to support the acquisition of land for resettling people living in landslide-prone areas of the Elgon sub-region.
Speaking during an NRM presidential campaign rally in Bulambuli District, Gen. Museveni said the new funds will supplement the ongoing resettlement program that began with the acquisition of 2,661 acres of land at Bunambutye Settlement in Bulambuli. The land is currently being distributed to families displaced by landslides in Bududa District, with each family receiving 2 acres of land and UGX 10 million in financial assistance.
Gen. Museveni emphasized that certain areas of the Elgon sub-region are unsafe for human settlement due to their geological nature. He urged residents living in high-risk zones to embrace the government’s relocation initiative before disasters occur.
He further cautioned the people of Bulambuli and the wider Elgon sub-region against what he termed as “opportunistic opposition politicians” who seek to discredit the government’s resettlement programs for political gain.
On infrastructure, the NRM Presidential candidate proposed the construction of stone-paved marrum roads in the mountainous areas of Bulambuli District as a sustainable solution to the region’s slippery terrain, which makes conventional marrum roads vulnerable to erosion and mud during rainy seasons. He revealed that stone deposits excavated during the construction of the Karuma Hydropower Dam will be utilized for this purpose and directed the Ministry of Works and Transport to implement the plan.
Gen. Museveni also listed several completed tarmac roads in and through Bulambuli District, noting that they have significantly improved the movement of goods and services.
In his address, the NRM flagbearer rallied the people of Bulambuli to embrace wealth creation initiatives aimed at improving household incomes. He cited success stories from farmers implementing the Four-Acre Model, encouraging residents to adopt similar practices to boost productivity.
Museveni highlighted various government socioeconomic empowerment programs — including the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Program, and the Women Empowerment Fund — noting that these initiatives are strategically designed to uplift all Ugandans from poverty.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to improving education and health services, promising equitable distribution of schools and health facilities across all parishes and sub-counties in Bulambuli District to complement the existing infrastructure.
Concluding his address, Gen. Museveni summarized the NRM government’s key achievements in Bulambuli District, citing the restoration of peace and security, economic growth, and infrastructural development as major milestones.
