Monday, June 25, 2012

15 feared dead in Uganda mudslides


15 feared dead in Uganda mudslides

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By JOHN NJOROGE
Posted  Monday, June 25  2012 at  18:14
The Uganda Red Cross confirmed 15 deaths on Monday following a heavy downpour that triggered several landslides in Bugisu sub-region, Eastern Uganda.
Two villages, Namaga and Bunakasala, in the Bumwalukani Sub County, Bududa district have been submerged in water.
In an afternoon statement to our Ugandan sister publication Daily Monitor, Uganda Red Cross said its Secretary General Michael Richard Nataka had also joined an emergency ground team in conducting rapid vulnerability capacity assessment.
“The Uganda Red Cross Society has sent a team of volunteers to assess the situation and establish the number of people affected although local authorities have told Red Cross that there could be about 80 people in each of the villages,” URCS head of communications Catherine Ntabadde said on Monday.
Efforts to reach officials of Uganda's Disaster Preparedness Ministry were futile as they were reportedly locked in an emergency meeting all afternoon following reports of the 3.12 p.m. landslides.
This is the third time landslides are affecting Eastern Uganda.
In August 2011, the Uganda Red Cross declared Bududa a disaster area after landslides injured eight people and left 420 others homeless.
Among the most affected area was Simuyu village in Bulucheke Sub County.
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In March 2010, at least 100 people were killed and over 400 people displaced after a six hour downpour triggered off landslides in several villages on the slopes of Mount Elgon.
The affected villages included Nameti, Kubewo, and Nankobe. An estimated 90 homes were destroyed in Nameti village alone. The affected villages were buried by fast moving mud, with houses, markets, and a church destroyed. Roads were also blocked.
In Butaleja, over 6,000 homes from the sub-counties of Kachonga, Masimasa, Kimuntu and Nawangofu were affected.
Two primary schools in Nabehere and Lubembe had to be closed. The Mbale-Busolwa road was also closed due to flooding.

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