UPDF Intensifies Search and Recovery Operations Following Devastating Landslide in Bulambuli District
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) 3rd Infantry Division has significantly intensified its search and recovery operations for missing persons believed to be trapped under rubble after a catastrophic landslide struck villages in Buluganya Sub-county, Bulambuli District, on November 27, 2024. Major General Don Nabasa, Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, confirmed that the ongoing recovery efforts are being ramped up, following a field assessment of the affected area yesterday.
“Search and recovery efforts will continue until all those trapped are found,” stated Maj Gen Nabasa. “On a positive note, forces were able to retrieve the body of Waniala Paul, aged 55, from Masugu village, which brings the total number of confirmed fatalities to 31.”
Maj Gen Nabasa also appealed to the Office of the Prime Minister and various partners for additional equipment to aid in the recovery, acknowledging the significant challenges posed by the treacherous terrain and the extensive debris scattered throughout the area.
Brigadier General Fred Rugadya Akiki, Head of the National Emergency Coordination Centre (NECC) in the Office of the Prime Minister, reported that 2,023 displaced persons have been registered at the Bunambutye resettlement camp, with ongoing efforts to verify the identities and needs of the affected individuals. He noted that several government ministries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are working in concert to provide essential services, including access to clean water, mosquito nets, large tents, fumigation, food distribution, and standby medical assistance, including an ambulance.
Additionally, the government has allocated funds for drilling additional boreholes in Plot 148 to improve water access. Brig Gen Akiki expressed appreciation for the significant support received from various NGOs, including UNFPA, the Red Cross, Oxfam, Caritas, the Salvation Army, CRS, and ACORD, among others, who have played a crucial role in providing relief.
The Ministry of Works is planning to upgrade and expand access roads to the affected areas, to accommodate 248 new households that will be relocated to separate three-acre plots. The authorities are ensuring the displaced families are grouped by sub-county and constituency to streamline coordination efforts. Security at the sites and resettlement camps is being provided by a joint force of the UPDF, Uganda Police Force, and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) personnel to ensure the safety and order of the displaced individuals.
These comprehensive efforts are intended to not only ensure the successful search and recovery operations but also to facilitate the safe resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the long term.
