Key questions on Bududa disaster

The gut-wringing events of the past few days in Bududa, more than anything, should compel government to provide some credible answers to Ugandans on what went wrong in the area, and more importantly the steps being taken to avert the avoidable results of such a disaster.

Eight years ago, we were in exactly the same ugly spot in the disaster that killed some 350 people. Had we planned better and taken the right steps, we believe we would not be in this position.

By the time of this writing, 300 people are missing and at least 40 are confirmed dead. Little action beyond residents and some volunteers cutting through the mud and heavy stones in search of bodies has happened.

From the onset, it is important to note that government officials, particularly in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), let down citizens in Bududa and principally share blame for the crisis that engulfed the area.

Worse still, the lukewarm and in most cases the zero response by the State more than 48 hours after the disaster struck is not only shameful but also disastrous. We learnt of this through frustrated local and central government officials and even helpless residents who have lost hope of ever seeing their own again.

Many lack basic necessities such as clean water, shelter and medicine with the previously scarce resources almost non-existent. The nominal response is indefensible.

We would like to suggest that as the country mourns the citizens who lost their lives, the big question should be on resettlement of those at risk of future disasters. But this is not, sadly, an all-new conversation.

The 2010 Cabinet decision on the relocation of the residents from the area should be revisited with the view of enforcing it without fail. Most importantly, however, government officials and other people involved in mismanaging that resettlement plan and alleged corruption must be dealt with according to the law.

Also, tough questions must be asked, for example, about how the nation’s children at Ssume Junior Academy were left to learn in such an environment, which authorities clearly knew was a time bomb.

Finally, we call upon the authorities and the international community to make emergency responses to this disaster. The people of Bududa should not suffer more than they already have.

The monstrous abdication of responsibility for this ravaged area and it’s scared residents who will once again have to mourn the mass death of their own isn’t just wrong, it reeks of wickedness and malice on our national conscience.