Another difficult year for Bududa landslide victims
The scene of the June 27 mudslide in Bududa that left 18 people dead. Six months later, residents living around Mt Elgon have endured suffering as they await government help. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA.
What you need to know:
Three years after landslides hit their area, residents living around Mt Elgon have endured suffering amidst unfulfilled government promises.
MBALE
The year 2012, just like 2011 and 2010, has been another tough year for the people living around Mt Elgon in Bududa District.
The residents have struggled with problems ranging from constant fights with Uganda Wildlife Authority over land in the park, a health crisis, a barrage of floods and the June 26 mudslide that left 21 people buried in Bumwalukani and Bunamulembwa villages in Bulucheke Sub-county.
After the mudslide, people living on the mountain slopes were evacuated after threats of El-nino rains were detected by the government’s disaster management team. The government estimated that 400,000 people could be displaced by landslides in the rainy season.
The Uganda Red Cross launched a Shs2 billion appeal fund for victims in Bumwalukani and Bunamulembwa villages to be temporarily resettled in host families as government looked for a permanent solution.
With good will and money pouring in from donors, the government was determined to use the disaster as a catalyst for transforming not only the poor Bududa residents, but also to end the mudslides. But a review by the Daily Monitor showed that the post-disaster plans were frustrated by bureaucracies in the government, the failure to properly utilise the aid and the difficulty of the enormous task of urbanising the area.
President Museveni in June suggested that the survivors and those living in high-risk areas be relocated, saying they could be absorbed in urban centres if no fertile agricultural land was found for them.
Resettlement plans
He said the government would find out the number of the affected and those at risk as responsible ministries explored the possibilities of urbanising Bududa Town Council, Nakatsi, Bushika, Kuushu and Bubiita town boards for permanent resettlement.
A ministerial sub-committee comprising the ministries of Works, Lands, Internal Affairs, Trade and Industry, Local Government and OPM, chaired by 3rd deputy Prime Minister Moses Ali, visited the area to carry out a risk assessment. They agreed to table the idea of urbanisation in Parliament and the Cabinet.
But six months down the road, there is nothing on the ground. The district chairperson, Mr John Baptist Nambeshe, says the government has failed to prioritise one site for immediate urbanisation to resettle about 12,713 people to save them from the suffering they are undergoing in host homes.
Thousands remain in wretched camps, some are living in ramshackled houses amongst host families, while many others have been evicted from host families.
The role of researchers
Makerere University scientists, researchers in partnership with other universities also promised to launch a comprehensive scientific study of Mt Elgon soils, trees, rocks to ascertain causes of mudslides in the area but to date, nothing has so far taken place. They were to determine the depth of a 40-kilometre crack on the mountain and to provide solutions that would end the mudslides. But to date, nothing is on ground.
Experts from the National Environment Management Authority and the Uganda Wildlife Authority said environmental education is the only way to save Mt. Elgon National Park from further encroachment and check massive landslides.
