UPDF Intensifies Search and Recovery Operations Following Landslide in Bulambuli District
UPDF Intensifies Search and Recovery Operations Following Landslide in Bulambuli District
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) 3rd Infantry Division has intensified search and recovery operations for missing persons believed to be trapped after a devastating landslide struck villages in Buluganya Sub-county, Bulambuli District, on November 27, 2024. Major General Don Nabasa, Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, confirmed the ongoing efforts during a field assessment of the affected area yesterday.
“Search and recovery efforts will continue,” said Maj Gen Nabasa. “On a positive note, the forces retrieved the body of Waniala Paul, 55, from Masugu village, bringing the total number of fatalities to 31.”
Maj Gen Nabasa urged the Office of the Prime Minister and other partners to provide additional equipment to support recovery, as the difficult terrain and debris present significant challenges.
Brigadier General Fred Rugadya Akiki, Head of the National Emergency Coordination Centre in the Office of the Prime Minister, reported that 2,023 temporary residents have been registered at the Bunambutye resettlement camp, with ongoing verification. He noted that various ministries and NGOs are collaborating to deliver essential services to the displaced, including clean water, mosquito nets, large tents, fumigation, meals, and a standby ambulance.
The government has also allocated funds for drilling additional boreholes in Plot 148. Brig Gen Akiki acknowledged the vital support from NGOs such as UNFPA, the Red Cross, Oxfam, Caritas, the Salvation Army, CRS, and ACORD, among others.
The Ministry of Works is planning to upgrade access roads to accommodate 248 new households, which will be relocated to separate three-acre plots. To ensure effective management and coordination, authorities have grouped the displaced people by sub-county and constituency. Security at the sites and camps is being provided by the UPDF, Uganda Police Force, and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
These coordinated efforts are focused on the success of the search operations and the safe resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
