Kasese District leaders have asked the government to relocate persons living along the banks of major Rivers Nyamwamba and Mubuku.
The leaders argue that they don’t have land to resettle the persons but they are concerned that if the current heavy rains continue the district could again be plunged into disaster.
At least nine people died when major rivers including Lhubiriha, Mubuku, Nyamwamba, Thako and Namugasani burst their banks in May last year following heavy rains.
The outgoing Mayor for Kasese Municipality Godfrey Kabyanga says in addition to being alert, residents especially those along the Nyamwamba valley need to be assisted to relocate to safer places.
He says their efforts to discourage people from settling along the river banks have been met with resistance.
Kabyanga also says the government needs to have a comprehensive program to handle settlement along rivers in the region.
The Deputy RDC Kasese Joshua Masereka says that there is a need for a sustainable safety plan along the river banks which should include permanently resettling families that have been living closer to the rivers.
Some of the residents living on river banks say that even though they are worried about the May rains, they have no alternative place they can relocate to.
