African Spring 118: Bududa landslide II

African Spring 118: Bududa landslide II

Kampala, Uganda, June 25, 2012

http://iwypla.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/bududa-landslide.jpg

Today Kampala was flooded by heavy rainfall. Outside the office a temporary swimming pool formed and business was quiet. Most people had to stay inside. As it is rainy season it is good that it rains. This year’s rainy season so far had felt pretty feeble. Bad for farmers, flora and fauna.

Then on return from work at home I read the horrible news. In a repeat of 2010 landslide in Bududa, East Uganda this time at least three villages with an estimated population of 300 villagers are said to have been swept away by mudslides. Last time churches and a marketplace were completely destroyed and it seems this time things are not much better.

The Ugandan Red Cross, the Uganda Popular Defense Forces and the Ministry of emergencies and disasters under Dr Stephen Malinga are working around the clock in an effort to save as many people as possible. Last time 100 people lost their lives, but this time it can be worse.

As the soil is very fertile and the local people love their land displacing/relocating them to other regions of the nation has been a hard sell. Some people that had left have sneaked back to their ancestral homes. However with overpopulation, deforestation, steep slopes, overgrazing by life stock, extreme rain and lack of escape routes disaster has struck twice.

There is no quick fix to this issue. People are attached to their ancestral land and way of living. Bududa I and II may be succeeded by Bududa III, IV etcetera. I wish the survivors of the disaster a rapid recovery. To those that have lost relatives, houses and live stock there are no words of consolation that can express the sorrow and loss you must feel.

Namaskar,

Ashis