By Ugasite
The death toll from the devastating landslide in Bulambuli district has climbed to 22, following the recovery of two additional bodies from the debris.
Police spokesman Rusoke Kituuma confirmed that rescue teams have so far retrieved 21 bodies. Another victim succumbed to injuries in the hospital over the weekend, bringing the total fatalities to 22.
The landslide, which struck last week, has displaced numerous families and left the region in mourning. Survivors are grappling with the profound loss of their loved ones and the destruction of their homes.
Last week, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja visited the affected area to console grieving families, assess the situation, and announce government support. She pledged UGX 5 million to each bereaved family for burial expenses and UGX 1 million for each injured survivor.
Nabbanja also assured residents that recovery operations would be expedited with airlifted equipment and revealed plans to relocate the displaced.
“The government, acting under the President’s directive, has mobilized resources to retrieve all bodies. Excavators will be deployed despite the challenging weather.
In the short term, we are relocating people to Nabutye for safety. Long-term plans include providing two acres of land per family and UGX 17 million per household to help them build new homes in safer areas,” Nabbanja said on Friday last week.