400 flee imminent landslides in Bududa

Mar 11, 2010

OVER 400 people have fled their homes on the slopes of Mt. Elgon in Bududa district as several sections of the ranges faulted, signaling looming landslides.

By Henry Mukasa
and Paul Watala

OVER 400 people have fled their homes on the slopes of Mt. Elgon in Bududa district as several sections of the ranges faulted, signaling looming landslides.

Nabulalo parish is also in Bukalasi sub-county where another parish, Nametsi suffered a massive landslide that buried three villages last week.

The residents of Nabulalo parish are stranded as an internally displaced people’s camp in the area, created for people evacuated from Nametsi, was disbanded over health concerns. They have camped in Bukalasi trading centre.

Three primary schools, Bukhalela, Lubili and Bukibalela, have closed as pupils followed their parents and teachers to safety.

John Modoi, a Uganda Red Cross volunteer in Bukalasi, said 4,000 people have been registered as vulnerable although only 400 have camped there.
“They have moved because the three hills have developed cracks and there is fear that a landslide could happen,” he said.

On the ranges, which The New Vision team toured were six cracks and water was flowing through them. They are easily noticeable from a distance as they have created a gap in the green vegetation on the slopes.

Down the slopes, mini-landslides could be seen rolling. In some areas huge rocks have been left hanging perilously.
“Even in Nametsi, the indicators were the same,” remarked Samuel Kitono, a resident.

The emergency, relief and evacuation co-ordinator in the office of the Prime-Minister, Maj. Gen. Julius Oketta, urged the bududa disaster management committee to mobilise for the immediate evacuation of people from the dangerous areas.

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