Police Report: 113 Missing, 15 Dead Following Landslide in Eastern Uganda

Police in Uganda have reported that at least 113 individuals are unaccounted for, and a minimum of 15 fatalities have been confirmed following a landslide in the country’s eastern region. The landslides, which were caused by intense rainfall, impacted several villages within the Bulambuli district, situated approximately 280 km (178 miles) from Kampala, the capital. The Ugandan Red Cross Society announced on X that a rescue effort is currently in progress after at least 40 residences were swept away. According to the Ugandan police, in addition to the 15 deceased, 15 injured individuals were rescued and transported to a hospital. The Ugandan Red Cross Society informed the BBC that at least six of the recovered bodies were children. The East African nation has experienced significant heavy rainfall over the past several days. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja issued a disaster warning via X, stating, “People are suspected to be missing and some feared buried by slides.” The heavy rains have also led to rivers overflowing, inundating educational institutions and places of worship, demolishing bridges, and cutting off communities. Military personnel have been dispatched to aid in the search and recovery operations. On Wednesday, the defence forces reported on X that two boats were deployed as part of an effort to rescue a taxi stranded on a bridge close to the town of Pakwach. During this operation, one of the boats overturned, resulting in the death of an engineer. In a parliamentary session on Thursday, Speaker Anitah Among conveyed her sympathies to the families of individuals who perished in the widespread flooding throughout the country. Eastern Uganda has previously experienced floods and landslides. A landslide in Bududa in 2010 claimed approximately 300 lives, marking one of the nation’s most severe natural catastrophes. The area is characterized by mountainous terrain and fertile land suitable for agriculture, which is a factor in residents’ reluctance to relocate, in addition to their strong ties to ancestral lands. However, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has indicated that heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides have compelled thousands of people to evacuate their residences this year alone.