By Wabomba Ronnie
BUDUDA
Bududa District is once again counting losses after landslides destroyed crop gardens and affected more than 20 homesteads in Busiriwa Sub-county. The most affected villages include Bunyende, Nangwe, and Nanyele Lower.
Residents say the disaster followed several days of heavy rainfall early this week, which triggered the landslides and opened deep cracks in the soil. The destruction has wiped out key crops such as coffee, bananas, maize, and beans, leaving families worried about food shortages.
Wilson Nakhwashe, the LC1 Chairperson of Nanyele Lower and one of the victims, said his entire coffee plantation was buried under the debris. “This disaster has not spared any garden in our area. We have lost everything,” he lamented.
Yefusa Kiwubeyi, the LCII Chairperson of Burafura Parish, reported that the landslides have also blocked River Manafwa, causing its water levels to rise. He expressed concern that continued swelling of the river poses a serious flood risk to residents along its banks especially as the rain continues.
Bududa District Chairperson, Milton Kamoti Wasunguyi, acknowledged the growing crisis and faulted the slow pace of the government’s resettlement program. “We have submitted complaints to the Office of the Prime Minister, but there has been no feedback,” he said. He urged residents in high-risk zones to relocate to safer ground while awaiting assistance.
Bududa, located on the slopes of Mount Elgon, has a long history of devastating landslides, with recurring disasters displacing hundreds over the years. Residents are now calling for urgent government intervention to avert further loss of life and property.
