A deadly landslide struck Kimono Village in Buluganya Sub-county, Bulambuli District, on Wednesday night (27th November 2024), burying over 20 homes and leaving dozens feared dead.
The disaster, which occurred around 9 p.m. following heavy rains, has trapped more than 30 people under debris, according to Bulambuli Resident District Commissioner Hajjat Faheera Mpalanyi.
“We are doing everything possible to coordinate rescue efforts and locate survivors. It is a heartbreaking situation,” Mpalanyi said.
The landslide caused extensive damage near Masugu Sub-parish, leaving many families displaced. Local authorities and emergency teams are working to assess the full extent of the disaster.
A History of Deadly Landslides in Eastern Uganda
The tragedy in Bulambuli adds to a grim history of landslides in Eastern Uganda, a region prone to such disasters due to its steep slopes and heavy rainfall.
In Bududa District, several catastrophic landslides have claimed hundreds of lives over the years. In 2010, a massive landslide buried three villages in Bududa, killing over 350 people and displacing thousands. Another devastating landslide in 2018 left at least 43 dead and destroyed homes, crops, and livestock.
Efforts to relocate residents from high-risk areas, such as Bududa and Bulambuli, have faced challenges due to resistance from some locals and delays in implementing resettlement programs.
As heavy rains persist, the government continues to urge communities in landslide-prone regions to evacuate to safer grounds to prevent further loss of life.