ICT director David Kyomuhendo receiving equipment for the satellite phones from Uganda Communication Commission’s Patrict Mwesigwa

By Jeff Lule

THE relief aid and resettlement of the Bududa landslide victims is likely to cost about sh5b, the Uganda Red Cross Society secretary general has said.

Michael Nakata said the society had made an appeal for sh2b to cater for the displaced victims for one-and-a-half months but it plans to extend its programme to four months, adding that they have raised sh1.9b so far.

Nataka said despite the good response from the public, more support was needed to meet the demands of the victims.

He made the remarks while receiving a sh10m donation from the National Social Security Fund director, Grace Isabirye, at the Worker’s House in Kampala yesterday.

Isabirye said the fund was also collecting relief items to help the victims.
Standard Chartered Bank director Manjang Lamin also handed over a cheque of sh50m.

“The money will be used to provide basic services and relief such as tarpaulins, water purification tablets, blankets, food, medication, and starting up emergency learning centres and clinics,” Nakata said.

He added that over 5,235 people had been displaced and 156 of them were suffering from diarrhoea.

Nakata said 93 bodies had so far been recovered, while over 300 people were still missing.

Meanwhile, the International Telecommunications Union, through the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), has donated 20 satellite phones for relief assistance.

The phones were handed over by Dr. David Turyahi, the acting director of IT and information management services in the ministry.

In a statement, ITU said: “ITU has deployed 20 satellite terminals, providing essential phone links that are vital to the search and rescue efforts.

The equipment, which was dispatched from ITU’s headquarters in Geneva on March 3, will also be used to coordinate the logistics of relief work.”

The assistant commissioner of disaster management and refugees, David Kazungu, said the Government will resettle all the affected families.

“We are carrying out assessment through our district coordinators to see how much we need and what we can do. The final budget will come after a systematic assessment of the situation,” Kazungu said.

He said the education ministry had been directed to start learning centres for the children.