Members of Parliament from the Elgon sub-region have asked government to clarify whether families relocated from landslide-prone areas will lose ownership of their land after receiving the Shs18 million resettlement package.
Bulambuli County MP Emmanuel Biara raised concerns over reports that some land occupied by the affected communities was being allocated to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), as well as claims that Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja had, pursuant to a Cabinet resolution, ordered the demolition of residents’ houses.
Biara said conflicting information had left affected families uncertain about their future, particularly whether they would retain ownership of the land they leave behind after relocation.
“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 during Tuesday’s plenary sitting, November 3, 2026, chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth.
Gerald Nangoli (NRM, Elgon North County) questioned whether the Shs18 million was intended to facilitate the resettlement of affected families or compensate them for surrendering their land.
He said officials from the Office of the Prime Minister had reportedly told residents that signing consent forms to receive the resettlement 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.
Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi asked Parliament for time to study the concerns and establish whether the land in question had been legally designated for UWA.
During the same sitting, MPs also raised concerns over rising food prices and transport fares, warning that the increasing cost of living was placing additional pressure on households.
Linos Ngompek (NRM, Kibanda North County) cited the rising prices of essential commodities 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 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 cost of living anymore,” Ngompek said.
He questioned whether Parliament should proceed with other business without first addressing the rising cost of living.
Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga also questioned government’s reluctance to support a Bank of Uganda proposal to use 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.
In response, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Henry Musasizi, said inflation on commodities had risen from 3.2 per cent to 4.6 per cent, while fuel inflation stood at 14.5 per cent.
Musasizi attributed the rising prices partly to the drought experienced over the past four months and fuel supply challenges, among other factors.
However, he opposed the proposal to use foreign exchange reserves to address exchange rate challenges, urging MPs to refer to his earlier statement outlining government interventions to manage the prevailing economic crisis.
