Landslide Cracks Widen, Threatening Over 500 Villages in Uganda's Namisindwa District

Namisindwa District in Uganda is facing a potential disaster as widening landslide cracks threaten the displacement of over 500 villages. Local leaders have issued warnings about an escalating crisis, primarily triggered by persistent heavy rains that have intensified ground fissures across several sub-counties.

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It is time for government to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves. We should not wait for people to lose their lives before taking action.

The affected areas, including Buwabwala, Bumumali, Tsekululu, Mukoto, and Luwa Town Council, are experiencing significant ground movement. Residents report living in constant fear as the cracks have become more pronounced, leading to structural damage in homes, destruction of farmland, and damage to infrastructure. The situation has been worsened by ongoing rainfall, which continues to flood homes and destroy crops.

Namisindwa District Chairperson Emma Bwayo, after conducting a field assessment, emphasized the need for immediate government intervention to prevent loss of life and further destruction. He stated that the district is compiling a report to seek emergency assistance and long-term solutions for communities residing in landslide-prone zones. The destruction of crops poses a significant risk to food security and household incomes, particularly for those who have invested heavily in agriculture under the Parish Development Model.

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If government does not intervene quickly, hunger will become another disaster facing our people.

Residents described a state of constant anxiety, trapped between the fear of their homes collapsing and the lack of alternative relocation sites. Local leaders are now calling for urgent evacuation plans, emergency relief supplies, and robust mitigation strategies to protect the vulnerable communities from the recurring threat of landslides. The district's location on the slopes of Mount Elgon makes it particularly susceptible to such geological events.

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We are sleeping in houses that could collapse at any time. Every day we fear for our lives, but we have nowhere else to go.