Families refuse to quit landslide-hit area

Residents walk through Nyeibingo Hill which was hit by landslide last week. Photo by Zadock Amanyisa 

In Summary

Adamant. Families reject advice to vacate landslide-prone areas.

Bushenyi. Families in Nyeibingo village, Ruhuumuro Sub-county in Bushenyi District that are susceptible to landslides have rejected advice from leaders to vacate the area.
Landslide destroyed nine homes, killed four people of the same family, six goats and swept away coffee and banana plantations on December 3.

Bushenyi District leaders including Security minister Mary Karooro Okurut and Resident District Commissioner Peter Mugisha, who visited the affected area after the disaster, advised the locals to relocate to Ruhuumuro Sub-county headquarters as government plans to help them out.
However, the community of about 30 families have rejected the idea, saying there is no food and shelter there. Mr John Ndyanabo, whose house was destroyed, said they cannot leave because they don’t have money for buying land in other places. “Our soils are fertile and leaving them will cause suffering. Most of us have for a long time depended on our soils here and we can’t just leave to suffer in new areas,” said Mr Ndyanabo.

Ms Donatira Kamabaati, a close neigbour to the family that lost four members said God would still protect her.Mr John Tumuheise, the Ruhuumuro Sub-county chairperson, told Daily Monitor that people’s lives are in danger because there are signs that more landslides could occur on the hills. He cited the hills prone to landslides as Burungira, Kayanga, Nyeibingo, and Ryakashoro where there are more than 200 people.
Mr Mugisha has expressed disappointment over failure by experts to go to the area to study the hills.

“Experts have kept promising to come in vain. What if the landslide happens again, what shall we do yet we are the ones who delayed to study the situation and advise appropriately,?” he said.
The Southwestern focal person of National Environmental Management Authority, Mr Jeconious Musingwire, asked the disaster preparedness ministry to assess the threat and relocate hesitant families from the hills before more calamities happen because of the current El Nino rain.

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