Nine Dead, Homes Buried As Deadly Mudslides Ravage Eastern Uganda

By Our Reporter

At least nine people, including three children, have been confirmed dead after devastating mudslides triggered by heavy rains swept through villages in Kween and Bukwo districts in eastern Uganda, leaving a trail of destruction, grief, and displacement.

According to the Uganda Red Cross Society, the mudslides struck overnight on Wednesday following hours of relentless rainfall that loosened the slopes of Mount Elgon.

In Chepkubortin Village, Chesower Sub-county, Bukwo District, a mudslide engulfed a home, killing three children from one family. Red Cross volunteers said access to the affected areas remains difficult as heavy rains have washed away sections of roads, hampering rescue and relief operations.

“Our teams are on the ground conducting rapid assessments and supporting affected families,” the Uganda Red Cross said in a statement. “A detailed report will be released once field evaluations are completed.”

In a related incident in Yatui, Kween District, another mudslide claimed six lives when an avalanche of mud and debris buried three homes in Kaptanga Village, Tuikat Sub-county, in the dead of night.

Residents described a terrifying scene as entire households were swept away while asleep.

“I was asleep when I heard a roaring sound like thunder,” recounted Joseph Cherotich, a survivor. “I grabbed my children and ran, but my neighbour’s house was completely buried — they lost one person.”

Photographs from the scene show shattered homes, uprooted trees, and acres of farmland buried under thick layers of mud. Local volunteers could be seen digging through the debris with hoes and spades in desperate search of survivors.

Among the victims was a five-year-old girl, daughter of Kapsus Mongusho, who perished as her parents sustained serious injuries.

“We Have Never Seen Anything Like This”

Residents say the destruction is unprecedented.

“The landslide took everything — our homes, our gardens, and our loved ones. We are in pain,” said Justine Yariwo, a resident of Kaptanga.

Hundreds of survivors have been displaced and are sheltering in makeshift camps and schools. Local leaders have appealed for urgent government intervention.

“We need rescue support, relief food, medical aid, and relocation for families in high-risk zones,” said David Mande Kapcheronge, the LCV councillor for Tuikat Sub-county.

Kween District Chairperson Geoffrey Chelogoi estimated that about 100 households urgently need relocation, calling the disaster “a wake-up call” for residents living on unstable slopes.

“People in Sebei, like their counterparts in Bugisu, are sitting on a time bomb,” Chelogoi warned.

Uganda’s eastern highlands — particularly Kween, Bukwo, Bududa, and Sironko — are among the regions most prone to landslides. The area’s steep terrain, combined with deforestation and unregulated farming, continues to make communities vulnerable to soil movement during the rainy seasons.

In 2024, the government launched a cash transfer programme to facilitate the relocation of nearly 5,000 households from high-risk zones, including 254 in Kween District. However, implementation has been slow, and many at-risk families remain exposed.

Environmental experts say the combination of degraded hillsides and climate-induced heavy rains is worsening the situation.

“Without reforestation, terracing, and sustainable land practices, landslides will only increase,” warned Wilberforce Walukano of the Manafwa Watershed Restoration and Stewardship Project (MWARES).

Call for Government Action

Kween Woman MP Rose Emma Cherukut said she will raise the issue in Parliament, calling for stronger disaster preparedness and support for victims.

“Our community is in crisis. Government intervention must be swift and meaningful to save lives and restore hope,” she said.

As rains continue to pound the slopes of Mount Elgon, fear grips local communities. Many villagers say they will spend nights huddled together, watching the trembling hills above their homes, praying they won’t be next.

“We can hear the water moving under the soil,” said one elderly resident. “Every sound makes us wonder if the mountain will fall again.”

The Mount Elgon region has witnessed several deadly landslides in the past decade. In 2019, a mudslide in Bududa District killed more than 30 people, while in 2022, another in Bulambuli displaced hundreds. Experts have consistently urged authorities to accelerate relocation efforts and strengthen early warning systems.