Government Begins UGX 18m Resettlement Payments for Landslide-Prone Households in Namisindwa

The Government of Uganda has today, Wednesday, October 21, 2026, commenced the implementation of a new resettlement programme for households living in landslide-prone areas of the Bugisu sub-region, starting with Namisindwa District, with each eligible household set to receive a one-off payment of UGX18 million to purchase land in safer locations.

The programme follows a Cabinet resolution aimed at accelerating the relocation of communities exposed to landslide risks on the slopes of Mount Elgon, where efforts to secure large tracts of land for resettlement have faced significant challenges.

Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja communicated the government's decision on Tuesday afternoon during an engagement attended by the Third Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Rukia Nakadama, ministers, technical officials, Members of Parliament and local government leaders from the Bugisu sub-region.

Under the new arrangement, beneficiary households will receive UGX18 million each, which they are required to use to purchase land in safer locations within Bugisu or elsewhere in Uganda.

The initiative is intended to provide an alternative to the previous approach, under which the government acquired land and relocated affected households to designated resettlement areas.

Cabinet Approves New Resettlement Approach

The decision was reached during a Cabinet meeting held on October 5, 2026, chaired by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Cabinet resolved to provide a one-off resettlement package of UGX18 million to eligible households in landslide-prone areas, enabling them to identify and purchase land where they can establish safer homes.

Since 2010, the government has been implementing a resettlement programme for communities at risk of landslides in the Bugisu sub-region.

Hundreds of households have so far been relocated to land acquired by the government in Kiryandongo, Bulambuli and Kween districts.

However, the government has encountered difficulties securing sufficiently large tracts of land within the Bugisu sub-region, slowing the relocation process and complicating efforts to move all vulnerable households to safer areas.

The cash-based approach is expected to address this challenge by allowing beneficiaries to purchase land according to their needs and the availability of suitable land, without relying exclusively on government-acquired resettlement sites. 

Vacated Land to Be Added to Mount Elgon National Park

As part of the programme, land vacated by beneficiary households will be taken over by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for integration into Mount Elgon National Park.

The houses belonging to beneficiary households will be demolished by UWA in collaboration with other security agencies after the respective households have received the UGX18 million resettlement package.

The measure is intended to facilitate the relocation of communities from the vulnerable areas and enable the vacated land to be incorporated into the national park.

Beneficiaries have been encouraged to leave the landslide-prone areas immediately after receiving their payments to reduce their exposure to potential disasters.

However, the government has provided a grace period until December 31, 2026, to allow affected households to harvest crops from the land they vacate.

This arrangement is intended to give families time to recover their agricultural produce as they prepare to relocate. 

Namisindwa District First in Implementation

Namisindwa District has been selected as the starting point for the implementation of the new resettlement arrangement, which begins today, October 21, 2026.

During the rollout, priority will be given to the areas considered to face the greatest landslide risks, including locations that have not yet been formally identified and mapped. 

The implementation team will conduct field-based verification exercises to establish which households qualify for the resettlement package.

The verification process will also involve community barazas and sensitisation through community radio stations to inform residents about the programme, its requirements and the procedures for receiving assistance.

The government says these measures are intended to ensure that the funds reach only eligible households living in areas identified as vulnerable to landslides.

The verification exercise will be particularly important in determining the households that qualify for support and ensuring that the resettlement process is implemented in accordance with the government's guidelines. 

Residents Urged to Relocate to Safer Areas

The UGX18 million package marks a shift in the government's approach to relocating households threatened by landslides in the Bugisu sub-region.

Rather than depending solely on the availability of government-acquired land, eligible households will be able to choose safer locations in Bugisu or other parts of the country where they can purchase land and rebuild their lives. 

The programme also links resettlement to the protection of the Mount Elgon ecosystem, with vacated land earmarked for integration into the national park.

As implementation begins in Namisindwa, attention will be on how quickly eligible households can be verified, receive the funds and secure land in safer areas.

The December 31, 2026, deadline for harvesting crops will also be a key consideration for households that depend on agriculture for their livelihoods as they prepare to leave their current homes.

The success of the programme will depend on effective verification, timely payment, community sensitisation and the ability of beneficiary households to obtain suitable land with the funds provided.

For communities living in landslide-prone areas, the initiative is expected to offer a new opportunity to move away from dangerous locations and establish homes in safer environments while supporting the government's broader efforts to protect lives and conserve Mount Elgon National Park.