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Landslide victims’ living conditions sadden rotarians

Some of the locals stand outside tents housing the victims of landslides at Bunambutye resettlement camp in Bulambuli District. PHOTO/FRED WAMBEDE
 

What you need to know:

  • Close to 300 families, comprising more than 5,000 people, were resettled in the first phases and each household allocated a house and two acres of land.

Rotarians in the eastern region have expressed dismay at the poor conditions under which the landslide victims are living at Bunambutye Resettlement Camp in Bulambuli District.

Some of the rotarians from the Rotary clubs of Mbale City, Mbale Metro, and Elgon Maisha, who visited the victims on Tuesday, broke down in tears after they found out that the victims, mostly elderly and children, were sleeping on the floor in tents and have no access to clean water.

More than 1,000 people have been relocated from Buluganya Sub-county following the multiple landslides that occurred in November last year, leaving 42 people dead and several others missing in the villages of Masugu, Namathele and Mamolo.

The rotarians, who donated, among other things, mattresses, blankets, bedsheets and food items worth $25,000 (about Shs92m), said more needs to be done by the government and donor community so that the victims can live dignified lives.

Mr Oscar Rwigyema, the assistant regional governor of Rotary Area 5 District 9213, said: "If conditions in the camp are not improved, the people might be forced to go back to the risk areas. We, therefore, call for more aid to the victims so that they can live a comfortable life at the camp," Rwigyema said.

Mr Moses Wanasolo, the chairperson of the victims at the camp, said there is need for more bedding materials because most of the people are sleeping on the floor bare, save for the few who can afford mats and tarpaulins.

"We also want the government to take us away from the tents because there is no way you can plan for your family while staying like this,” Mr Wanasolo added.

The government plans to allocate to the relocated victims two acres of land and Shs17m per household to construct their own houses.

Plea for help

Mr Boniface Wamakuyu, 78, from Bulago Sub-county, said elderly people are having rough nights sleeping on mats on the hard ground.

“We have been sleeping on the ground for almost two months. Our lives are deteriorating at high speed. If we are not helped, we might not live long,” he said.

The Bulambuli Resident District Commissioner, Ms Faheera Mpalanyi, said land to be given to the landslide victims has already been portioned.

Mr Twala Aramathan, the Bulambuli District assistant chief administrative officer, who is also the district disaster coordinator, said they had started the verification exercise of people staying in highly risky areas prone to landslides.

“When we verify, we register them and capture the data that is controlled by the Office of the Prime Minister for relocation and resettlement purposes,” Twala said.

Close to 300 families, comprising more than 5,000 people, were resettled in the first phases and each household allocated a house and two acres of land.