More than 500 villages across five sub-counties in Namisindwa district face imminent danger after massive landslide cracks tore through the area, destroying homes and crops and leaving residents in fear of further devastation.
Local leaders warn that government inaction could turn the situation into a full-scale humanitarian disaster, as families remain trapped in unstable homes with no safe relocation options.
The widening cracks, fueled by relentless rains, threaten to erase entire communities if urgent intervention is not taken.
Community members say they are living in constant fear, as the cracks widen daily and threaten to swallow homes, schools, and farmland.
With rains forecast to continue, experts caution that Namisindwa may suffer one of Uganda’s deadliest landslide crises without immediate measures to stabilize the area.
Mr Timothy Nashimolo, an elder, said that many families have already been displaced, while others remain trapped in vulnerable areas with limited access to shelter and food.
‘Farmers, whose livelihoods depend on the land, are among the hardest hit, with entire fields of maize, beans, and bananas destroyed, ‘said Mr Nashimolo.
Mr David Okot, Environmental expert, warns that without swift action, the cracks could widen further, putting thousands more at risk.
He says cracks could grow worse and trigger multiple landslides especially as heavy rains continue to pound the area.
A visit by this reporter at the weekend to the area, several homes have been abandoned and some of which have collapsed.
The cracks running through several villages have spread fear among locals and leaders living in the affected villages.
The cracks have also affected some schools, water sources, roads among other infrastructures.
The affected Sub-Counties include Buwabwala, Bumumali, Tsekululu, Mukoto, and Luwa Town Council, where heavy rains on Wednesday intensified the cracks and triggered widespread destruction. Numerous houses have developed deep fissures, while acres of farmland have been buried or washed away by landslides and flooding.
Mr Emma Bwayo, the District LC5 Chairperson, confirmed the situation following a field assessment conducted on Wednesday afternoon.
Accompanied by local leaders, Mr Bwayo visited several villages to evaluate the extent of the damage and listen to residents’ concerns.
‘The cracks are expanding rapidly, and the risk to lives and property is very high. We are working with local leaders to assess the most urgent needs and coordinate support,’ Mr Bwayo stated.
Residents report sleepless nights as the ground continues to shift beneath their homes.
The affected residents and Local leaders are calling for immediate government intervention, including emergency relief supplies and long-term strategies to mitigate the recurring threat of landslides in the mountainous district.
At least 1000 people have been killed by landslides over the past years and out of such deaths, 70 percent were registered in Bududa, which sits on the slope of Mt Elgon.
In 2019, the Ugandan Government launched a resettlement plan aimed at relocating all residents from high-risk zones to Bunambutye in Bulambuli district after the office of the Prime Minister (OPM) bought more than 2,800 acres of land in 2013.
However, progress has been slow, and many communities remain exposed. Those who have been relocated also face challenges in adapting-especially subsistence farmers who struggle to find fertile land for food production.
Mr Bwayo emphasized the need for an urgent government response to save lives and provide a permanent solution for communities living in landslide-prone areas.
‘It is time for the government to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves. We should not wait for people to lose their lives before taking action,’ Mr Bwayo said. He added that a comprehensive report is being prepared for submission to Kampala to seek immediate intervention and support.
Ms Betty Nandutu, the District Councilor, who represents two sub-counties of Tsekululu and Bungati, emphasized that many residents are enduring sleepless nights as floodwaters continue to invade their homes, while others have already lost their crops.
‘If government does not intervene quickly, hunger will become another disaster facing our people,’ Ms Nandutu warned.
Ms Nandutu who is also the District Executive Secretary for Social Services, further noted that the destruction of crops will severely undermine recovery efforts under the Parish Development Model (PDM), since many households had invested heavily in farming as their primary source of livelihood.
Mr Elvis Wamono, one of the affected residents, expressed concern that they have nowhere else to relocate and are currently living in houses with widening cracks. ‘We are sleeping in houses that could collapse at any time. Every day we fear for our lives, but we have nowhere else to go,’ one resident said, appealing to the central government for urgent assistance,’said Wamono.
Mr Bwayo called for immediate evacuation plans, emergency relief support, and long-term mitigation measures to protect communities from future landslide disasters.
Bugisu Sub-region has suffered repeated deadly landslides, especially in Bududa, Bulambuli, Namisindwa, and Sironko districts, with over 1,000 deaths recorded in the past decade.
The worst incidents include several devastating landslides across Bugisu. In 2010, a massive landslide struck Nametsi village in Bududa District, killing more than 100 people and displacing thousands. In 2018, another disaster killed 48 people and more than 500 people displaced following a landslide in Suume village, Bukalasi Sub-county, Bududa district.
August 2017, landslides hit Bufupa parish, Sironko district killing seven people and displacing hundreds.
In 2019, multiple landslides occurred in Bududa and Sironko, killing at least eight people. In 2023, Masugu village in Bulambuli District lost five lives when homes and a classroom were buried. Most recently, in 2024, Bulambuli District suffered another tragedy, with 36 people killed, 100 reported missing, and more than 1,000 residents placed at risk.