KEY POINTS
- Landslide death toll in Elgon County rises to 17, including a mother and newborn.
- Persistent deforestation exacerbates landslide risks across Uganda’s mountainous regions.
- Authorities call for evacuations and sustainable land management to prevent future tragedies.
Elgon County’s death toll climbed to 17 as rescue teams continue to search for survivors in the catastrophic landslide.
Among the victims is a woman and her newborn body who were buried side-by-side, as stated by a local lawmaker, Ignatius Wamakuyi Mudimi.
Uganda urges evacuations as landslide devastates
In a televised interview, Mudimi represented the affected region, confirmed the tragedy. “She was buried with the baby,” Mudimi told Uganda’s NTV network, expressing grief over the losses caused by heavy rainfall and deforestation.
The Ugandan government has urged those in landslide-prone areas to evacuate owing to the unrelenting rain since October.
The Red Cross and police are leading search-and-rescue efforts, while officials assess the scale of damage across the mountainous region.
Environmental damage increases risk
Experts proclaim that persistent deforestation in Uganda’s mountain slopes have worsened the impact of landslides in Uganda.
Large swathes of land cleared for farming have left the region vulnerable to erosion, especially during prolonged rainy seasons.
The Elgon County landslide is one of many incidents of natural disaster that have stricken Uganda in recent weeks.
A major highway connecting Kampala to the northwest was flooded on Tuesday due to heavy downpour which led to River Nile to overflow.
Similar disasters have occurred in the area before, including a 2010 landslide that killed at least 80 people, prompting calls for more sustainable land management.
Broader climate challenges
The heavy rainfall is part of broader climate change consequences affecting East Africa, causing rampaging flooding and displacement.
However, relief efforts remain ongoing, with authorities prioritizing evacuations of survivors and emergency aid for affected communities.
Officials stressed the importance of long-term solutions, including stricter enforcement of environmental laws and relocating residents from high-risk areas.
“This is a wake-up call,” Mudimi said. “We need to prioritize safety and sustainability to protect our people from future tragedies.”
