By Steven Candia, Mary Karugaba, Milton Olupot and Madinah Tebajjukira

THE NRM Caucus was among the groups which yesterday responded to the Government’s appeal for aid.

By press time, sh412m had been delivered to the Prime Minister’s office and the Red Cross.

The donors included Tullow Uganda, China National Offshore Oil Corporation as well as MTN Uganda, a leading telecommunications firm.

Tullow gave sh100m, while the Chinese firm offered $50,000 (about sh100m). MTN gave sh100m and said it would join the Uganda Red Cross to help with the disaster management.

Denmark donated about sh112m. The donations came a day after the Red Cross appealed for sh2b for relief.

Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi received the donations at his office in Kampala. He praised the two firms for their “excellent gesture” to help victims whom he said were in dire need of shelter, food, drugs and blankets. He said he would travel to the district today.

“You have assisted us in handling this crisis,” he told Tim O’Hanlon, the head of Tullow’s Africa operations, who was flanked by Brian Glover, the Uganda operations manager. Tim O’Hanlon said: “I hope that this (donation) will generate the momentum to
ease the tragedy.”

On the other hand, Fang Zhi, the President of the Chinese oil firm, who is in the country on a business trip, said their donation was to share in the pain with the victims. “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” he said.

MTN chief Themba Khumalo said: “This will definitely not solve the problem entirely but will ease it.” He also promised further assistance.

The Red Cross chairman, Tom Buruku, who received the donation, said his team had by mid-morning recovered 87 bodies. Another 300 people were still unaccounted for. He said donations can be made at any of their 51 branch offices countrywide.

Operations chief Dr. Bildard Baguma warned of further mudslides as heavy rains continue to pound the country.

He said the Red Cross would continue the search for bodies and survivors. He admitted, however, that the chances of finding any more survivors was dim.

On his part, the Danish ambassador, Nathalia Feinberg, said in a statement: “My thoughts are with the victims of this enormous tragedy and with their families.”

She hoped her country’s contribution would make a difference in the recovery work.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees promised tents and plastic sheeting to 5,000 people left homeless.

The UN child agency, UNICEF, said provision of safe water, shelter and food were a priority. Chulho Hyun, the head of communication in Uganda, called for prevention of disease outbreak in the affected areas.

“The challenge will be the return of populations to original villages, due to the extent of damage.  The general expectation is for resettlement in safer areas.”

UNICEF gave drugs and equipment. The agency also donated blankets, tarpaulins, soap, tents, body bags, buckets, shovels, ropes and water purification tablets.

On their part, the NRM caucus pledged sh28m to Bududa victims.

The party’s chief whip, Daudi Migereko, said the caucus resolved at a meeting yesterday that each non-cabinet member contributes sh100,000. The ministers pledged sh200,000 each.

Migereko said the money will be deducted from the members’ March salary.

NRM has 211 MPs 70 of whom are ministers. If all pledges are honoured, sh28 will be collected.

The move was proposed by First Lady Janet Museveni.

Migereko, who chaired the meeting, said disaster preparedness minister Tarsis Kabwegere briefed members about the tragedy and on measures taken to manage the disaster. He promised to give a detailed report on the extent of damage next week.

The meeting was attended by the Vice-President Gilbert Bukenya, party secretary general Amama Mbabazi.

Sources said finance state minister Fred Omach estimated that Bududa would need about sh10b.

Caucus treasurer David Bahati said a motion requesting for contribution from MPs of other parties will be tabled in the House.

Addressing the meeting, Nsibambi said the Government was working around the clock to ensure emergency relief items such as food, clothing, tents and medical supplies are delivered to the affected people.

He said a team from his office was on the ground to assess the extent of damage.

Sources that attended the closed door meeting said the MPs called on the finance minister to table a supplementary budget to cater for the emergency.

The caucus also allowed the minister of works to re-allocate sh30b to cater for the 10,000km of district roads recently taken over by the central government.