Residents of Bududa and Sironko districts in Bugisu Sub-region have accused the government of abandoning them as they strive to extract bodies of their relatives buried by landslides that hit the area on Tuesday.
Namasa and Naposhi villages in Bushika Sub-county, Naroko village in Bunabutiti sub-county, Bududa District and Bunagisa village in Zesui sub-county in Sironko district were on Tuesday hit by landslides that saw at least 47 people buried by mud and over 300 displaced.
By Wednesday, December 4, 2019, residents had recovered seven bodies from the mud by digging through debris through hand hoes. Over 40 people are still buried by mudslides and many more still missing.
Mr Wilson Watira, the Bududa District chairperson, said the tools being used to search for the bodies are inadequate. He asked the government to provide machines that can help in the search for the remains of the landslide victims. Watira says the landslides displaced more than 300 people in the two villages.
Mr David Wafula, a survivor and resident of Namasa village in Bushika Sub-county in Bududa district, said the government has neglected them. “We cannot do much with handhoes. The government should come in and search for our missing relatives, whom we are sure are buried in the rubble,” Mr Wafula, said.
Wilson Watila, said the government should speed up the relocation of the survivors to Bunambutye resettlement site in Bulambuli district.
Samson Natasambwa, the Bududa District Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, said the affected people are yet to receive any form of relief.
He said they are currently advising the affected people to seek refuge in their relative’s homes or neighborhood, schools and churches as they wait for response from the Office of the Prime Minister.
