Landslide Claims Two Lives in Kabale

(Kabale) – Two people lost their lives in a landslide that occurred early Tuesday morning in Rwamacumu village, Kamuganguzi sub-county.

On October 29, 2024, police confirmed the deaths resulting from the landslide, which happened around 3:00 AM. The victims have been identified as Charles Tayebwa, a casual worker and resident of Rwamacumu cell, and a Rwandan national named Bosco, who worked as a shambo boy. According to Kigezi regional police spokesperson Elly Maate, the landslide involved a large mass of earth and rocks that collapsed into a house, causing significant damage and burying the two individuals who were sleeping inside.

Following the incident, Abraham Nuwagaba, the local LC1 chairperson, alerted the Officer in Charge at the Kamuganguzi Police Station. This notification triggered a response from the district police commander and the Criminal Investigation Directorate officer, who quickly led a team to the scene. Upon arrival, they processed and documented the area, while efforts were made to recover the deceased. A postmortem examination was conducted, and the bodies were subsequently handed over to their relatives for burial arrangements.

Kabale district, located in the Kigezi region, is known for being susceptible to landslides. This vulnerability is shared with other densely populated areas, including the Rwenzori and Mount Elgon regions. The geography and population density in these areas increase the risk of such natural disasters.

This is not the first time Kabale has faced the devastating effects of landslides. Earlier this year, a major landslide in Mayengo Village, Kiniogo ward, caused damages estimated at over 300 million shillings. In May 2020, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) temporarily closed the Kabale-Ntungamo road after landslides led to considerable road destruction. This closure resulted from pavement failure in Kaharo sub-county, located about 18 kilometers from Kabale town, which was exacerbated by nearby landslides.