Members of Parliament from the Elgon sub-region have asked Government to clarify whether families being relocated from landslide-prone areas will forfeit ownership of their land after receiving the proposed Shs18 million resettlement package.
The concerns were raised during Tuesday’s plenary sitting, November 3, 2026, chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth, with legislators questioning the legal status of land left behind by families being moved to safer locations.
Bulambuli County MP Emmanuel Biara raised concerns over reports that land occupied by the affected communities was being allocated to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
He also cited reports that Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, acting on a Cabinet resolution, had directed the demolition of houses belonging to residents earmarked for relocation.
Biara said conflicting information from government officials had left affected families uncertain about their future, particularly regarding whether they would retain ownership of their ancestral land.
“The Prime Minister should guide on relocation and land ownership, and the Attorney General should explain how people’s land is being given out,” Biara said.
Elgon North County MP Gerald Nangoli (NRM) questioned whether the Shs18 million package was intended to facilitate resettlement or compensate families for surrendering their land.
He said officials from the Office of the Prime Minister were reportedly telling residents that signing consent forms to receive the package would result in them losing ownership of their land.
“Government should come up and give correct information to people living in high-risk areas, so that they understand: are they losing all their land at only Shs18 million?” Nangoli asked.
The legislators called for clear communication from Government to prevent affected communities from making decisions without fully understanding the implications of the relocation arrangements.
In response, Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi asked for time to study the concerns raised by MPs and establish whether the land in question had been legally designated for UWA.
MPs raise alarm over rising cost of living
During the same sitting, legislators raised concerns over escalating food prices and transport fares, warning that the rising cost of living was placing additional pressure on already struggling households.
Kibanda North County MP Linos Ngompek (NRM) cited rising commodity prices in Bweyale Town Council, where a kilogramme of beans had increased from Shs4,000 to Shs5,300, while a two-kilogramme packet of wheat flour had risen from Shs6,000 to Shs9,000.
He also expressed concern over the recent increase in bus fares announced by the bus drivers’ association, saying the additional transport costs were worsening the financial burden on ordinary Ugandans.
“Last week, the bus drivers’ association increased bus fares and this comes back to us, because the people we represent cannot afford the costs of living anymore,” Ngompek said.
He questioned whether Parliament should proceed with other business without first addressing the economic pressures facing citizens.
“Is it procedurally right to proceed to talk about other issues without addressing this matter?” he asked.
Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga also questioned Government’s reluctance to support a Bank of Uganda proposal to utilise the country’s foreign exchange reserves to ease economic pressures.
“A few weeks ago, BoU said they were more willing to use the reserves and help the economy in the current situation, but it appears the Government is uncomfortable with it,” Karuhanga said.
Government attributes price increases to drought and fuel pressures
Responding to the concerns, the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Henry Musasizi, said commodity inflation had increased from 3.2 per cent to 4.6 per cent, while fuel inflation stood at 14.5 per cent.
He attributed the rising prices largely to the drought experienced over the previous four months, fuel supply challenges and other economic pressures.
Musasizi, however, opposed the proposal to use foreign exchange reserves to address exchange rate challenges, maintaining that such an intervention was not the appropriate response.
He referred MPs to his earlier statement outlining Government’s interventions to address the prevailing economic challenges.
The debate highlights growing parliamentary pressure on Government to provide clear answers on the Elgon resettlement programme while taking more decisive measures to cushion households against rising food prices, transport costs and other economic hardships.
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