President Yoweri Museveni has said government may consider giving cash as compensation for people living in disaster prone areas so that they quickly relocate “instead of the protracted process of resettlement which involves the allocation of planned farms, permanent houses.”

Museveni proposed the new approach of resettlement of people affected by landslides and floods in his condolence message to families that have lost their loved ones in the mountainous Elgon and Rwenzori regions that have of recent had heavy rains that have caused havoc in both areas.

“This is to express condolences to the families of the nine Ugandans that died in the Elgon area and the seventeen Ugandans that died in the Rwenzori area. Condolences also to all Ugandans as a whole,” Museveni said in the message posted on his Facebook Page.

“In order to expedite the evacuation of threatened People, we may have to look at only cash compensation instead of the protracted process of resettlement which involves the allocation of planned farms, permanent houses, These losses, on account of floods and landslides, are, mainly, due to the mistake of insisting on settling (living) in areas that logic and God did not intend for human habitation. “With cash, people can, then, go and fend for themselves,” he said.

The president however urged people to stop living and carrying out dangerous activities in areas like swamps, wetlands, river-banks, and lakeshores) and steep mountains.

“All people in such areas should accept resettlement as we have done with the previous Bududa victims that are now settled in Bulambuli. Those cultivating in the wetlands should accept our plan of changing to fish-farming as we have done in Limoto wetland, Pallisa District,” he said.

The swamps and steep mountains are not for crops and human settlements, he said. “The swamps are for water, and papyrus Undisturbed swamp water is for irrigation and the swamp grasses are for mulching crops.”

He said swamp grass also helps in the manufacture of rain through transpiration. “You normally see mist … along these swamps early in the morning. That is part of that transpiration that, eventually, helps with rain formation.”

Museveni said the swamp grass also filters the water of soil and impurities and, therefore, protects the Lakes from silting filling with soil. Forests and vegetation along steep mountains use their roots to hold the soil and also act as cushion for raindrops hitting the soil so that rain and the run-off water … does not sweep the soil, causing soil erosion and, eventually, landslides. The tree-leaves and canopy also break the force of the raindrops.

The tree-roots and the dropping leaves, also form a soft bed on the forest floor and slows down the speed of …run-off water and forces the water to sink in the soil, thereby replenishing the water-table underground. Instead of water running on the surface and causing destruction, it sinks in the soil, Museveni said.

The president said he would intensify the campaign for the Environment Resettlement Fund so that those who were misled by the Government to go to the wetlands in the 1960s are compensated to get out. “The recent encroachers should simply get out. Condolences, again,” he said.

Stories Continues after ad

The Police Disciplinary Tribunal has convicted eight police officers accused of negligence in connection to the kidnap and murder of social worker, Maria Nagirinya and her driver, Ronald Kitayimbwa.

Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said the Police Disciplinary Tribunal chaired by Senior Police Commissioner, Dennis Odongpiny found seven officers guilty of negligence of duty while the other officer was found guilty of discreditable conduct that tainted the police image.

“The police disciplinary standby court at Police Headquarters, has found eight officers guilty, after they neglected to promptly and diligently attend to their duty on the night of the 28/08/2019 and 29/08/2019,” he said.

One officer was additionally charged, with discreditable conduct when he failed to professionally attend to the relatives of kidnap victims, Maria Nagirinya and Ronald Kitayimbwa, who had sought his assistance.

During their hearing it was found that the officers violated requirements of duty, to remain alert and observant. Others were absent from duty that evening.  It was also noted that so many errors, delays in fast tracking the CCTV footages and miscommunications were made, minutes and hours after the double kidnap.

All in all, the officers while at Old Kampala, Nateete and Katwe Police stations respectively showed an unwillingness to perform their duties, as well as take appropriate action during the occasion of the crime.

The officers disciplined are;

ASP Byansi Mohammed Rashid, OC Station Nateete was charged with neglect of duty. He was found guilty, convicted and sentenced to a reprimand.

D/ASP Andrew Niziyimana, OC CID Nateete was also charged with Neglect of Duty. He was found guilty, convicted and sentenced to a reprimand.

ASP Okello Allan, who was supposed to be the car commander that night but was absent. He was charged with neglect of duty, found guilty, convicted and sentenced to a severe reprimand.

D/AIP Baguma Sunday, the Standby officer for Nateete Police Station that night, was charged with Neglect of Duty. He was found guilty, convicted and sentenced to a reprimand.

CPL Owana Samuel, the 21/C signaller of Katwe, who was supposed to relay messages that night, was absent. He was charged with Neglect of Duty, found guilty, convicted and recommended for a reduction in rank, from Corporal to Constable.

CPL Kibikwamu Lauben,was the officer in charge counter at Old Kampala. He was not courteous to the relatives to the victims when they approached him for assistance. He was charged with Discreditable conduct, found guilty, convicted and sentenced to a reduction in rank from corporal to constable.

Basaliza Joshua, the station guard of Old Kampala, who failed to open the gate for the relatives to the victims. He was charged with Neglect of Duty found guilty, convicted and sentenced to a reprimand.

PC Kitutu Deo, the 2nd station guard at Old Kampala, was absent when the relatives came for assistance. He was charged with Neglect of Duty, found guilty, convicted and sentenced to a reprimand.

The defaulters have 14 days within which they can appeal the judgment to the Police Council Appellate Court.

Stories Continues after ad