Experts warn of more mudslides on Mt Elgon

BUDUDA- The preliminary geo-technical study of disaster-prone Mt Elgon by experts has revealed that the ground around mudslide scars is still moving.

The study conducted last week was meant to determine the depth of the 40km-crack on the slopes of Mt Elgon and to map out ways of dealing with mudslide disasters.

The geo-technical team led by Dr Yazi Bamutaze, a senior lecturer in the Department of Geography, Geo-informatics and Climatic Science at Makerere University, revealed that conditions remain too dangerous and another mudslide could occur.

“I want to caution the people that the ground is still moving at the mudslide scars because there is a lot of water underground. And there is little hope that the ground will stabilise so people must move away,” said Dr Bamutaze.

Ground is unstable
Dr Mary Gorretti Kitutu, a government environment expert, said the small landslides at the slopes of the mountain with many water openings indicate that the rocks are under tension and that the ground is still unstable.

“The ground is very soggy, the soils seem to be slumping and the depth definitely has grown, it is still moving,” said Dr Kitutu.

Blacklisted areas: The team has blacklisted Bumwalukani, Bunanyuma, Shalo, Buwali, Nametsi, Mabono, Bushiyi hills in Bududa and Kato, Butoto, Buwabwala, Bumbo, Tsekululu and Sono hills in Manafwa as the areas where the soils are still moving and where mudslides are likely to occur anytime.

Past disasters: In March 2010, landslides hit Nametsi village in Bududa District killing 350 people and displacing thousands.

In 2011 a mudslide in Bulambuli killed about 28 people. In March 2012, mudslides killed six people in Sironko District and in June 2012, another mudslide buried 18 people in Bududa District.