Kween and Bukwo Districts – Heavy rains have triggered deadly mudslides in eastern Uganda, leaving at least nine people dead, including five members of one family, in Kween and Bukwo districts.
According to the Uganda Red Cross Society, the mudslides were caused by continuous rainfall that has pounded the Sebei sub-region for days, displacing several families and cutting off major roads.
In Chesower, Bukwo District, a mudslide swept through a home, killing three children from one family. Red Cross volunteers are on the ground conducting rapid assessments and providing emergency relief to affected households. Access to the area remains difficult as flooding and blocked roads continue to hamper rescue and relief efforts.
In a related incident, a second mudslide struck Yatui in Kween District on Wednesday night, killing six people. Red Cross teams, working alongside local authorities and residents, are leading search and recovery operations. Photographs from the scene, shared by Red Cross volunteers, show extensive destruction to homes and farmlands.
Local leaders have appealed for immediate government action to relocate families living in high-risk areas. David Mande Kapcheronge, the LCV councillor for Tuikat Sub-county, urged authorities to expedite rescue and relief operations. “We appeal for immediate assistance—rescue operations, relief supplies, medical aid, and compensation for lost crops and livestock,” he said.
Kween District Chairperson Geoffrey Chelogoi estimated that about 100 households in the district urgently need relocation. “This disaster is a wake-up call. People in Sebei, especially those living on steep slopes, are sitting on a time bomb, just like their counterparts in Bugisu,” he warned.
In 2024, the government launched a cash transfer programme to accelerate the relocation of residents in landslide-prone areas, targeting 4,827 households nationwide. Bududa District was allocated the largest share with 2,050 households, while Kween was slated to relocate 254. However, many at-risk communities have yet to benefit.
Environmentalists caution that more landslides are likely unless sustainable land management practices are adopted. “The only viable solution is for locals to plant indigenous trees, dig trenches, terrace their land, and embrace better farming methods,” said Wiberforce Walukano of the Manafwa Watershed Restoration and Stewardship Project (MWARES).
Grace Yariwo, the Kween District Secretary for Gender, said the mudslides have derailed local development initiatives. “Apart from losing lives, people’s livelihoods have been destroyed,” she said.
Kween Woman MP Rose Emma Cherukut vowed to raise the issue in Parliament. “Our community is in crisis. Prompt government intervention is needed to make a real difference in the lives of those affected and those still at risk of looming disasters,” she said.
As heavy rains continue to pound the region, residents remain on edge. Many villagers said they are spending nights awake, huddled together in fear of more landslides on the unstable slopes above their homes.
