The need to conduct evacuation exercises for people from Uganda's highland regions has become urgent following warnings by meteorological officials of an increased risk of more landslides because of heavier rains that are expected in the coming months.

The warning comes in the wake of a disaster in which an estimated 300 people in the eastern Uganda district of Bududa, were believed to have died following landslides that buried 3 villages in Elgon mountain region on Monday March 1, 2010.

The Spokesperson of the Department of Meteorology Jackson Rwakishaija told The Sunrise. “This is the beginning of heavy rains.”

Apparently, in an earlier interview held on March 1, before the Bududa landslides happened, Rwakishaija had told The Sunrise that: “Given the fact that we just had heavy rains late last year, the ground is still very soft which means that with additional heavy rainfall, disasters coming from landslides are expected to multiply.”

The landslide-prone regions in Uganda include Elgon region, Rwenzori mountain ranges which includes districts like Bundibugyo, Kabaale and Kisoro.

By Wednesday March 3, 85 bodies had been discovered. The landslides had displaced up to 2000 people and destroyed a local hospital.

The Water and Environment Minister Maria Mutagamba is expected to hold a press conference tomorrow Thursday Mach 4, to present a detailed weather forecast for the coming few months. Met officials however indicate that the country is expected to experience heavier rains as the El-Nino season gathers momentum.

By Wednesday, President Museveni was reported to have arrived in Bududa to witness the extent of the destruction and to lead the rescue effort. The Army was said to be involved in the rescue exercise.

The heavy rains, coming just two months after another season of heavy rainfall, it looks likely to set off large scale destruction of both private and public assets such as residential houses, roads, hospitals and bridges.

Extreme weather events have multiplied in Uganda in recent years. In 2007, heavy floods that affected northern Uganda caused large-scale destruction when they swept away bridges and people's crops. Scientists attribute the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events to man-induced climate change.

In October 2009, landslides blocked the Fort Portal-Bundibugyo road, affecting movement of people and merchandise. blog comments powered by Disqus

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