By George Bukenya
Government move to compensate people of Kiteezi for the loss incurred during the tragedy of garbage slide that claimed about 50 lives and leaving scores homeless after destroying their houses.
The Minister of State for Housing Persise Namuganza said that government has already earmarked UGX 84 billion to be used to construct low cost houses which will be distributed to the victims but the houses will be given to only those who where land lords.
While addressing reporters at Uganda Media Centre, Namuganza said that detailed information for the victims have already been recorded and taken buy her minister what remains is to discuss the modernises on who should get what as far as housing size units are concerned and a meeting between KCCA, Ministries, of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Finance and Economic Planning and that of Land Housing and Urban Development.
She also said UGX 16 m have also been passed by cabinet to work on the short term solution of resettling the victim where each family will bag UGX 2 million regardless of his or her status such that they can go and rent elsewhere as government is working on a permanent solution where low cost houses will be constructed for them.
The Minister however said that government will not coarse victims to accept these low cost house those who want they will take them and those against it will be free to choose their own developers but compensation amount will depend on the valuation done by the government valuer.
The lord Mayor Erias Lukwago said that the Authority was given 4.5 billion as a bonus for surpassing the revenue collection target given to KCCA by the central government.
The Habitat for Humanity African Continent Programs director, Margret Mengo argued government to speed up its plan of implementing the construction of low cost houses that will be given to people in a way of first renting them for some time such that after between 10 to 15 years the tenants become land lords.
She said that her organization will extend a hand in the construction of such houses because they will help to improve lives of Ugandans.
Meanwhile Uganda on 7th October 2024 will join the rest of the world to commemorate the World Habitat Day and the local function here will be helped in Kamwokya along Mutekanga road while the international community will celebrate it in Mexico City, Mexico.