At least 15 people have been confirmed dead and more than 100 others are missing after heavy rains triggered landslides in eastern Uganda, officials said Thursday. The disaster struck six villages in the mountainous district of Bulambuli, leaving a trail of destruction and prompting an ongoing rescue operation.
Police updated the death toll to 15, with 113 people still unaccounted for. Images circulating on local media showed vast areas of earth and debris covering villages, including Masugu, about five hours from the capital, Kampala. Videos shared on social media captured desperate efforts by residents digging through the rubble in Kimono village to find survivors.
The Uganda Red Cross Society warned that the death toll was expected to rise as search and rescue teams continued their work. District commissioner Faheera Mpalanyi reported that “about 30 people” were believed to have perished in the disaster. So far, six bodies, including that of an infant, have been recovered.
“Given the devastation and the size of the area affected, and from what the affected families are telling us, several people are missing and probably buried in the debris,” Mpalanyi said.
The recent heavy rains have caused widespread flooding in parts of Uganda. In the northwest, a tributary of the Nile River burst its banks, prompting the prime minister’s office to issue a disaster alert. Main roads across the country have been cut off, stranding motorists and complicating rescue operations.
Emergency crews were dispatched to assist those affected, including boat teams deployed near the town of Pakwach, where rising waters had rendered roads impassable. Tragically, one rescue boat capsized, resulting in the death of an engineer, according to Uganda’s defence forces.
Authorities continue to urge caution as rescue operations persist, and affected families hold out hope for news of their missing loved ones.