3 feared dead in Kisoro landslides

Mar 06, 2010

AS the country tries to come to terms with the deadly landslides which buried three villages in Bududa, four sub-counties in Kisoro district are also counting heavy losses following landslides, which hit the district over the last few days. Reports from the district indicate that three people, inclu

By goodluck musinguzi and Arthur Baguma

AS the country tries to come to terms with the deadly landslides which buried three villages in Bududa, four sub-counties in Kisoro district are also counting heavy losses following landslides, which hit the district over the last few days. Reports from the district indicate that three people, including a child are feared dead.

Shafiq Ssekandi, the deputy Resident District Commissioner, Kabale said three people from Maziba sub-county are feared dead after they went missing near Kigarama bridge. “Two women and a child are feared to have been washed away by the floods at Kigarama bridge. We are still trying to verify this information.”

Over 30 homes, including a school and a church have been destroyed. Two classroom blocks at Rwemihanga Primary School collapsed, forcing authorities to close the school.

The roof of Ruganda Catholic Church was ripped off by the landslides. Crops, goats, sheep, rabbits, chicken and pigs were reportedly washed away by the landslides. The affected sub-counties are Rubaya, Butanda, Bufundi and Kamuganguzi all along the Uganda-Rwanda border.

Fear of more rains has forced the authorities to order residents out of the affected areas. Enock Kazooba the LC3 Chairman Rubaya said the situation is worrying and fear of more rains might cause more destruction.

Saturday Vision team visited the home of George Ziranga whose property were destroyed by the landslides. His house and garden were destroyed. “My chicken, goats and crops have all been destroyed and my family was evacuated to a primary school,” Ziranga said.

John Byabagambi, the state minister for Works has directed district enginners to provide all the equipment they have to clear the road from Katuna to Rubaya.

A combined team from the district, works ministry, the Police, the army and Red Cross are assisting the affected.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});