At least 13 killed, many more feared dead as landslides bury Uganda homes
Al Jazeera12 hrs
Uganda Landslides: At Least 15 People Dead, Over 100 Missing
Above: People look on as an excavator helps search for people trapped under debris after a landfill collapsed in Kampala, Uganda, on Aug. 10, 2024. Image copyright: BADRU KATUMBA/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Landslides in eastern Uganda have so far killed 15 people, injured as many, and left more than 100 missing across eight villages, police said on Thursday.
Heavy rains on Wednesday night triggered landslides in the mountainous district of Bulambuli. According to the Uganda Red Cross Society, the landslides completely buried 40 homes and partially damaged others.
The Spin
Narrative A
Uganda is prone to the cascading effects of landslides because it's primarily a rural and mountainous region battered by poverty. Large swathes on the slopes of its mountains have been separated from their forests and other vegetation cover for the expansion of agriculture, increasing the risk of landslides.
Narrative B
Though this disaster occurred due to heavy rains, it will reoccur if Uganda doesn't adapt to its root cause — global warming and climate change, which make hefty rainfall more likely. The country needs urgent funding to respond to natural disasters and build its capabilities to avoid another catastrophe.