By URN
Leaders in Buliisa district have faulted the government for completely neglecting people affected by floods in the area.
In 2020, more than 3,500 people were displaced by floods in Buliisa district that resulted from the rising water levels of Lake Albert. The most affected people were from Wanseko, Katanga, Masaka landing sites in Kigwera sub-county and Kawaibanda, Butiaba, Boma, Kigangaizi, Tugombili and Walukuba.
Other affected people are from Bugoigo, Kamagongoro, Kigungu, Serule, Piida, Waisoki, Triangle, and Magali in Butiaba sub-county, Kabolwa and Kigoya landing sites in Buliisa sub-county. The situation then forced the people to seek refuge in churches, neighboring schools, and under the trees.
In 2021, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja met some of the flood victims at Butiaba and Wanseko landing sites in Buliisa district and assured them that the government would soon find land to resettle them. But to date, nothing has been done to ensure that the flood victims are resettled.
Fred Lukumu, the Buliisa LCV Chairperson wonders why the government would make empty promises to the flood victims yet they continue to go through untold suffering.
He says, the district profiled, documented, and forwarded particulars of the flood victims to the office of the prime minister for action to be taken but to date the government has kept a deaf ear.
Norah Bigirwa, the Buliisa Woman Member of Parliament says, they have several times raised the matter on the floor of parliament but the government has kept a deaf ear yet people affected by floods in other parts of the country have been resettled.
Allan Atugonza, the Buliisa county Member of Parliament faults the government for not attending to the flood victims adding that the only option is for the government to resettle the flood victims as soon as possible since most of them are still languishing under trees and sleeping in the cold.
Sylvia Nyamahunge, one of the flood victims from Butiaba landing site says that since March 2020, she has been sleeping in the cold together with her children since the floods completely submerged their home.
Moses Asaba, the Butiaba town council LCIII Chairperson says that the floods displaced more than 1500 families in his area alone.
He however says that to date, the flood victims have not received any support from the government.
