The death toll from the devastating landslide in Soni Village, Buluganya Sub-County, Bulambuli District, rose beyond 20 after more bodies were recovered across the weekend.
The landslide, triggered by heavy downpours, buried more than 50 homes and destroyed crops, leaving communities in shock and distress. They affected Masugu town council and Kimamolo village in Buluganya sub-county; however, the most affected area is Musugu village.
The Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja also visited the area to express sympathy, extend government support to bereaved families and injured victims, and also assess the situation on the ground.
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After navigating muddy roads for over five kilometers, the Prime Minister and her team from the Office of the Prime Minister reached the affected village where the bodies were laid. Nabbanja announced immediate financial support, with shs5 million allocated per body for burial arrangements and shs1 million given to each injured person.
The Prime Minister also pledged continued government assistance, deploying 300 soldiers to assist in recovery efforts, saying, “The government, under the directive of the president, has mobilized resources to help exhume all bodies. Excavators will be brought in, though the current weather is challenging,” Nabbanja stated.
Answering the question of continued landslides in the Elgon region, she outlined both short-term and long-term plans for affected residents.
“In the short term, we are relocating people to Nabutye for their safety. In the long term, the government will allocate two acres of land per family and shs 17 million per homestead to help construct houses in safer areas.”
Lillian Aber, the State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, called for urgent relocation, urging residents in landslide-prone areas to heed government efforts.
“The vehicles are ready to take you to Nabutye. Food and non-food items will only be provided to those who relocate. Medical camps will also be set up in Nabutye to care for the sick. Those ready to leave should start boarding the vehicles now,” Aber said.
It is reported that the government plans to use census records to verify the identities of those missing and deceased.
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