PM Nabbanja urges Mt. Elgon residents to support resettlement efforts

By Ismael Kasooha

BULAMBULI

Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has urged residents of the Mt. Elgon sub-region to support the ongoing resettlement programme for households at risk of landslides.

The programme, the Premier said, reflects the Government’s commitment not only to responding to disasters, but also to reducing risks and protecting lives in a sustainable manner.

“I therefore continue to encourage our people to embrace resettlement efforts, because safety must always come first,” the Prime Minister said while closing a two-week-long field training exercise dubbed Okoa Maisha (Save Life), held at Buginyanya NARO Farm in Bulegeni Sub-county, Bulambuli District, on Friday.

Under this scheme, each at-risk household is allocated two acres of land in safer locations, such as Chepskunya and Girik in Kween District, along with financial support of Shs 10 million for house construction.

The Prime Minister launched the programme in Kween District on 31 March 2026.

Okoa Maisha 2026 is a Uganda People’s Defence Forces-led initiative focusing on disaster preparedness and management. It was conducted by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Bulambuli District Local Government, the Uganda Red Cross Society, and local communities.

The exercise equipped participants with practical skills and knowledge in disaster preparedness and management.

“What we have witnessed here is not merely a simulation; it is a demonstration of Uganda’s growing capacity to prepare, coordinate, and respond to disasters. It is proof that when institutions come together with a shared purpose, we can build systems that save lives,” the Prime Minister said.

She noted that the Mt. Elgon sub-region continues to experience recurrent landslides, particularly during periods of intense rainfall, and that over the years, Bulambuli and its neighbouring districts have been heavily affected.

Hon. Eng. Hilary Onek, the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, assured the people of Bulambuli and the wider Mt. Elgon region that the Government has built the capacity to respond to and manage disasters.

The State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs (Veteran Affairs), Hon. Huda Oleru Abason, noted that the Okoa Maisha exercise has strengthened participants’ ability to manage disasters.