By Andrew Nakhaboya
Landslides have destroyed crop gardens and displaced hundreds of families in Bududa .
The affected areas include the villages of Nasambi and in Bushika sub-county and Nashinde lower village in Buwali, Bududa district.
According to area residents we spoke with, the landslides have destroyed acres of their crops like coffee, bananas,cassava among others.
Paul Wimbi, one of the affected residents said this is not the first time they are being hit by such disasters hence blaming the government for neglecting their plea for rescue.
He did the whole garden of coffee worth hundred of millions have been washed with others buried in the landslides.
Julius Wamandu, another resident from Buwali sub county whose house was affected said he survived narrowly because the landslide hit his house at a time he was not in.
He said he had gone to look for pastures for his animals.
Jessica Wamini said the government is always reluctant when it comes to rescue but very first when it comes to evacuating dead bodies something she said is unfortunate.
She said she was given a card in 2018 by the office of the prime minister and was among the people to be relocated but up to now, nothing has been done.
Tamseo Konzawu the local council onr chsiprson for nasimbi village, his residents are having sleepless nights with others lacking where to sleep due to the disaster.
He said the district authorities have kept on asking them to move to safer places but they don’t provide them with shelter, something he says is hard for him as a leader.
He said he can not ask his residents to vacate because he doesn’t have places where he can take them.
He added that some of his residents got cards from the office of the prime minister to be relocated in 2010 but up to now there is nothing that has been done.
Micheal Musamali the Bududa district Natural resources appealed to the government for relief aid asking residents who are staying adjacent to River Manafwa banks to relocate to their neighbours to avoid the risks of losing lives.
Milton Kamoti Wasunguyi the Bududa local council five chairperson said the have repeatedly complained to the office of the prime minister but no response she yielded.
He said the government should not wait for people to die before they respond.
He said the mudslide in Buwali has blocked river Suume, whose levels have continued to rise, scaring residents who live along the river banks.
Moses baraza the Bududa deputy residents district commissioner said they are organising places where the people are going to be relocated as they wait for a hand from government.
He asked the government to respond with relief items first because the displaced people will have nothing to eat now that their crops have been swept with others buried in the mudslides.
He also asked the office of the prime minister to expedite the relocation process given that rains are still on and they don’t know what may happen next.
The Elgon region was ranked among disaster-prone areas by the Office of the Prime Minister risk assessment in 2018.
Uganda national meteorological authority (UNMA) recently announced that there will be much rain in the months of September, October, November and December.
This is evident as many parts of Bududa have experienced the same leaving soils soft hence mudslides.
