In the afternoon of Thursday the 11 October 2018, the mountainous eastern district of Bududa in Uganda was hit by a series of landslides which also caused massive flooding following torrential heavy rains. As a result, 5 villages have been washed away in the district of Bududa and confirmed reports indicate that 40 bodies have been found. Rescue teams have been deployed to search for missing persons. The landslide in Bududa triggered boulders (huge rocks) to fall into River Suume which rolled to Bukalasi health Centre; in the process washing away buildings/structures; injuring many people and causing much damage. In addition, the boulders blocked the river channel; causing the river to burst its banks and cause flooding to occur in the nearby trading centre. Bududa district which lies on the foothills of Mount Elgon, at the Uganda and Kenya border is a high risk area for landslides.
The landslides have put Bududa district in a state of crisis. The persons affected by the landslide find themselves in a desperate situation, with many unmet vital humanitarian needs such as access to food, shelter, need for health care as an effect of water borne diseases, and other basic essentials.
The emergency response in Uganda is currently being coordinated by Office of the Prime Minister. The government of Uganda immediately deployed a rescue and recovery team in the area and are currently working with the District Disaster Management Committee to carry out loss and damage assessments. The Government of Uganda is making a contribution of Uganda Shillings 500,000 to the families of the deceased.
ACT Alliance member of Uganda forum, Church of Uganda has been working in Uganda since 1979 and is now helping/planning to help people affected by the landslide under its department (household and community transformation directorate). Church of Uganda has been a member of ACT Uganda Forum since ACT Uganda Forum was formed in 2010 and is submitting a funding proposal to support the affected in the areas of food, non-food and psycho-social support.
