Landslides that struck several villages in eastern Uganda on Wednesday have resulted in at least 20 fatalities, according to a provisional toll released by the Red Cross on Friday. “The toll has reached 20 deaths, following the recovery of 19 bodies and the tragic loss of one survivor in the hospital,” the organization stated in a press release, though it did not specify the number of individuals still missing.
On Thursday, police reported a death toll of 15, along with 113 people unaccounted for. The head of the Bulambuli district, where the affected villages are situated, expressed concern that the toll might be “heavier than anticipated.” “The number of missing persons exceeds a hundred, and it would be miraculous if some of them are found alive,” said Faheera Mpalanyi, emphasizing that “the equipment dispatched to search the affected villages is struggling to reach the sites due to washed-out bridges.”
According to the Red Cross, 125 homes were completely destroyed by the mudslides, which were triggered by heavy rains affecting at least five villages in the Bulambuli district, located about 300 kilometers (a five-hour drive) east of the capital, Kampala, near the border with Kenya. A total of 750 individuals have been displaced.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja visited the site on Friday. The Prime Minister’s office had issued a “disaster alert” on Wednesday evening after “heavy rains that occurred on Wednesday led to disaster situations in many regions.”
In the northwest of the country, the Tangi River, a tributary of the White Nile, overflowed, severing an important road leading to South Sudan. According to the army chief’s office, “an engineer” who was part of a rescue team died on Wednesday when a boat capsized while attempting to rescue a public taxi stranded in the river.
As Uganda enters early November into its rainy season, the country has experienced intense rainfall for three consecutive days, damaging transportation infrastructure, including roads and bridges.
