President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed that people in areas prone to floods and mudslides to relocate with immediate effect for their safety.
The President says that people in such areas should resettle at least 50 metres away from the riverbanks, 200 metres from lake shores- and no building should be constructed on hills with a gradient greater than 30 degrees.
Museveni made the directive in his Monday evening tweet where he expressed his concern on the number of lives that continue to be lost in disasters related to floods mudslides.
The most recent such disaster claimed at least 23 lives Ntoroko district and Kigezi sub-region.
“Condolences on losing 23 people and 16 injured on account of the landslides and floods in the areas of Kigezi and Ntoroko. Those losses of life re-emphasize the need to observe the environmental requirements strictly,” President Museveni tweeted on May 8.
“There should be no buildings or gardens 50 metres from riverbanks, 200 metres from the lake shore, no building on hills with a gradient greater than 30 degrees.”
“Forests hold the soil and prevent the land slides. The roots of the trees hold the soil. The forests near the riverbanks and lake shores filter the water going into the rivers or lakes, so that they do not silt,” Museveni explained.
Museveni directed the State House Comptroller to give Shs5m to each bereaved family and Shs1m to the injured individuals to meet their treatment costs.
