Kenya aids Bududa landslide victims

By PAUL WATALA

The Kenyan Government through Bamasaaba in Kenya, has donated relief food and non-food items worth millions of shillings to Bududa district landslide victims.

The items donated included 1000 bags of maize, 200 bags of rice and 300 blankets.

Silvester Muwangulu, the district commissioner of Bungoma in Kenya handed over the items to Mbale district LC5 chairperson, Bernard Mujjasi who represented the Bududa district LC5 chairperson in Mbale on Saturday.

Officials from the Inzu Yabamasaba cultural union, Bududa district leaders, Uganda Red Cross Society leaders and the community members, were present and cheered and sung songs of appreciation for the aid.

Muwangulu said the assistance extended to the survivors was a sign of brotherhood and showed how East African Community is growing stronger.

"That is part of our Government commitment to keep brotherhood and meaningful neighborhood," Muwangulu said.

He explained that although Mount Elgon is being shared by two countries, the other part of the country was not experiencing frequent landslides due to massive planting of the trees and sensitization of the communities living near it.

"Ugandan Government should encourage tree planting as it is done in Kenya. We only experience challenges of rocks rolling down from the mountain. In Kenya to cut one tree you must have planted ten trees. We do not allow digging up to the top of the mountain and forest encroachment is punishable, “Muwangulu said.

Mujjasi hailed the Government of Kenya and the Bamasaaba in Kenya for the assistance extended to their vulnerable brothers in Uganda.

"On Behalf of the Ugandan Government and the Bamasaaba, let me take this chance to say thank you very much for keeping the candle burning. We pray that the East African Community becomes a true dream," Mujjasi said.

He advised the district local leaders and communities in Bududa not to sit back and only look at the donations extended to them but seriously attend to their gardens.

"Donations are a short term interventions, you need to forget what happened and accept to be relocated within Bugisu region," Mujjasi said.