By Gordon Ssekandi – updated at 1022 EAT on Tuesday 11th Dec 2024

KAMPALA, UGANDA- GRO Foundatiom  on Monday held an emergency forum to mobilize resources to support the Bugisu region landslides victims.  The forum took place at Protea Hotel in Kampala.

It was attended by Equity Bank, MTN Uganda, Intereligious Council, Masaba Kingdom Minister, Politicians, Civil Society Organisations, Financial Institutions and Journalists. 

In his opening remarks, Laban Musingunzi, Executive Director GRO Foundation said they been doing several projects in the Bugisu region including planting more than 20,000 trees.

GRO Foundation Programs Manager made a presentation based on the assessment carried out before the landslides.

Inzu Ya Masaaba, Minister of Disaster Preparedness Hon Woboya Vincent also presented a needs assessment report of the region.

It was agreed that 1 Billion UGX will be raised every year for 5 years for the projects in Bugisu and that quarterly meetings will be convening.

At least 1,000 people have reportedly been killed by landslides in Bugisu Sub-region over the past 10 years, an average of 100 people killed every month, local media has established.

Out of the 1,000 deaths, 70 per cent were registered in Bududa District. In 2010 for instance, more than 100 people were confirmed dead and 350 feared dead. They have not been accounted for to date. They were killed in a landslide in Nametsi Village in Bukalasi Sub-county, Bududa, and more than 5,000 others were displaced.

Mr Robert Tukei, the Elgon police spokesperson, said the figure could be higher because some of the victims are never accounted for. “It could reach 1,000 people if we count from 2010 because apart from those whose bodies are found, others remain unaccounted for,” he said, adding that he needs to find out the exact figure.