FORT PORTAL, UGANDA – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has unveiled a strategic government plan to permanently resettle and revitalise the livelihoods of communities displaced by the rising waters of Lake Albert in Ntoroko District.
The announcement was made during a media interaction with journalists from the Tooro and Rwenzori sub-regions at the Fort Portal State Lodge. The President addressed the plight of hundreds of families who have been displaced from their homes along the lake's catchment area due to increasingly severe flooding.
President Museveni revealed that he has directed the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, to lead a swift and comprehensive intervention. The directive aims to replicate the successful model used to relocate other Ugandan communities living in high-risk areas, such as landslide-prone regions in Bududa.
“I have instructed the Prime Minister to intervene in this matter to ensure a swift resolution, just as we have done for other vulnerable communities,” the President stated. He emphasised that the plan is not merely about moving people but includes a robust “package to revive their livelihoods,” ensuring sustainable economic activity in their new settlements.
The rising water levels of Lake Albert, attributed to long-term climatic changes and increased rainfall in the Nile Basin, have submerged homes, farmland, and infrastructure, creating a humanitarian and economic crisis in Ntoroko. The President's directive signals a shift from temporary disaster response to a long-term, development-oriented solution.
The full details of the resettlement package, including the location of new settlements and the specific livelihood programs, are expected to be outlined by the Office of the Prime Minister in the coming weeks.
This move underscores the government's commitment to addressing climate-induced displacement through planned relocation and integrated community development, aiming to turn a crisis into an opportunity for secure and prosperous living.
