Entire Sub-county Being Abandoned Over Looming Landslides in Bududa

At least 55 homes in Bubiita sub County in Bududa district have been deserted by residents after fresh cracks running through the sub-county. 

The fresh cracks pose indicate a threat of a looming landslide.

     A whole sub-county is on alert over a new crack running from Bubiita hill, down to Sume river which has forced several people to vacate their homes for their lives should a landslide happen. 

These are currently living in makeshift structures in the low-lying areas of the sub-county and in the surrounding areas. 

     

The Bubiita Sub County LC5 councilor Melo Patrick says the crack has covered a distance of 1.5 km and 55 homes have been deserted by owners.  

  

He said occupants of the homes just removed iron sheets from their homes and movable belongings and went to make temporally structures in the neighboring areas.    

  

Muhamad Walumoli, a resident of Namarango Village who lost his permanent house due to cracks says he vacated his house after it cracked following the heavy downpour that pounded the area. 

  

He says could only remove iron sheets from the house and go together with 30 members of his household to take refuge at his brother's incomplete house.

//Cue in: “And I can tell you that…//

 

Cue out:… Your absolutely right,”//

       

Majidu Kutosi and Hassan Masika, some of the affected residents say they are in dire need for help because they have no food or other basic needs after leaving their homes. 

    

//Cue in: “Ali kumenya kwefee…//

  

Cue out:…eyumba yagenda.”// 

    

Bududa district Environment Officer Marion Namono says the district advised affected communities to vacate the risky areas and made a report to the OPM over the same.

She says almost the entire sub county is affected and people who abandoned their homes are currently living with relatives where the relief items will find them.

Bududa Woman Member of Parliament Agnes Nandutu called for immediate temporally relocation of people in risky areas as they wait for government's permanent relocation plan where people will be resettled in safe areas in an urbanization format. 

 

//Cue in: “Since this place cracked…//

 

Cue out:…they will die.”// 

   

According to the disaster risk profile by OPM’s National Emergency Coordination and Operations Centre (NECOC), almost 70 percent of Bududa is uninhabitable as are the surrounding districts.