Residents of Ddimo Landing Site in Masaka District, who were displaced by the increased water levels of Lake Victoria three years ago have asked to be resettled.
The floods submerged houses, public facilities like Toilets among others. Some of the affected persons are still sleeping out in the cold.
The victims now want the government to acquire land and have them resettled since the floods have affected their livelihoods for many years.
At least 30 houses were submerged and destroyed at Ddimo landing site in Kyesiiga sub-county after Lake Victoria crossed its boundaries into people’s residences.
Agnes Birabwa who deals in drying fish at the landing site, says she has failed to reconstruct her house due to a lack of funds.
She says on top of the houses, the flooding water also destroyed their toilets, which exposes them to risks of contracting diseases.
Alex Kato Lukubo and Paul Lubega who are fishermen who were also affected by the rising water levels say that they have only managed to replace a few items that can support their livelihood but not their houses that were destroyed. She says that houses were washed away forcing them to seek refuge at the neighbor’s place.
According to Lubega, they are yet to receive the relief items that were promised to them by the government.
Gerald Kyakulumbye, the Chairperson of Ddimo Landing Site says that in addition to lack of money, some of the affected people are scared of making preparation of constructing permanent house because the lake may rise again.
He explains that besides people’s residences, the water levels also submerged fish loading stalls that are also yet to be repaired.
He says the current situation is out of hands saying the government should acquire land and have them resettled immediately.
Recently the Minister for Water and Environment Sam Cheptoris asked people in areas that were affected by the rising levels of the water to find alternative areas of settlement.
He said that the water was moving back to its original boundaries which people had encroached on.
