Chinese community donate items to Bududa victims

Bududa LC5 chairperson Wilson Watira (in blue shirt), talking to Ambassador of China to Uganda, Zheng Zhu Qiang. Photo by Paul Watala

Chinese community in Uganda has donated relief food and other assorted items worthy sh300m to Bukalasi Sub County in Bududa landslide.

The relief food and other assorted items were handed over to Bududa district chairperson Wilson Watira by Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zheng Zhu Qiang at the district head offices.

"Chinese community has always been so supportive whenever the landslides strike Bududa district. The same Chinese community was the first to extend support just after 12 hours when the landslide had just hit the district," Watira said.

"In 2010, Chinese community still gave heavy support and we are now appealing for an early warning technology so that people are alerted before landslide strikes," He added.

Watira said that Chinese government should also support Uganda in training of our people to acquire rescue skills in case the calamity strikes, adding that Chinese government should also extend support to help in fixing destroyed infrastructure.

"Our roads, bridges, health centres, schools and water sources have been destroyed by landslide and appeal for assistance to have our infrastructure replaced or fixed. This will help our people accesses social services," Watira said.

He said since the roads and bridges were damaged by landslide, transportation of produce from the village to markets has become nightmare to famers, adding that several people have been trapped on either side without accessing social services.

Watira also appealed to Chinese government to send investors to Bududa, adding that this will help youth and communities get jobs that will reduce pressure on the mountains and forests hence reduction in occurrence of landslides.

"We want investors from chine to come to Bududa and help add value in our coffee and this will help households to improve on their income," Watira said.

Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zheng Zhu Qiang said that China is determined to continue supporting people of Bududa and Uganda as country in the fields of technology, infrastructure among others.

"Our relationship between Uganda is very strong that even at the time Chinese was struck by earthquake Uganda extended support to suffering families  because a friend in need is a friend indeed,   " Zheng said.

"It was really sad that people in Bududa have continued to die because of landslides and as Chinese community in Uganda we join the rest of the world to pray for the souls of the people who were killed, to rest in internal peace," Zheng said.

Zheng said the relationship between Uganda and China is incomparable, adding that its Chinese tradition to extend support to needy countries more so in Africa.

Zheng also hailed Ugandan government for the support being extended to Chinese communities in Uganda, adding Chinese government also donated hard cash to landslide victims through the office of the Prime Minister, but he did not reveal the amount.

He also advised Mt Elgon local leaders to put tough measures of people that destroy environment, adding that in Chine Mountain are considered as gold because of their trees cover.