Over 1000 residents from Buliisa district are demand for compensation from government over floods.
The residents from six sub-counties in Buliisa district were displaced by floods on Lake Albert in 2020.
The floods at that time hit Butiaba Town Council, Wanseko Town Council, Bugoigo, Buliisa and Kigwera and destroyed buildings and household property.
The demand for compensation is based on promises by the then Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, who went over to assess the level of damage at the time and pledged to support the seriously affected.
Godfrey Tibikanya , the LC1 General Secretary Wanseko Cell mentioned that as victims they are still held up in renting else where and yet their own land is still available.
We have been here for over 100 years, our property was taken away by water, we have no where else to construct. Some of just renting. The government which is declaring the land a wet land should compensate us,” Tibikanya said.
Fredrick Wathumu who is a resident in Kisanya East noted that they feel neglected. According to him, there are lawful registered residents that had premises like hotels who can be easily traceable by government for compensation.
Billy Rwothungeyo, a media officer for minority rights mentioned that the government needs to come up with a clear rehabilitation program for these people involving resettlement and adapting to new economic activities.
He noted that some of the people in these areas do not even have political representation and they can easily be left behind `in regard to national development.