By Trypheen Asiimire
At least 15 people have been confirmed dead after fresh landslides hit Kasese in the wee hours of today. According to the Uganda Red Cross spokesperson, Irene Nakasiita, tragedy befell residents of Kasika village, Rukoki Sub County which saw several people buried by the landslide that hit at around 4am when everyone was asleep. Nakasiita said this was due to heavy rains that hit the area last night adding that 15 dead bodies were recovered this morning and six others referred to St. Paul’s Hospital in Kasese Municipality. Nakasiita says at least 18 people were reported missing, adding that the Uganda Red Cross response team is still on the ground working with local authorities and other responders in the community to search for the other missing persons. Nakasiita warned that such disasters might be on the increase this month due to the expected heavy rains around the country. The Red Cross spokesperson said they have in the past issued an early warning that a number of areas including Kasese are at risk of landslides due to heavy rains. In the past years, Kasese district has been experiencing floods and landslides during the rainy months of the year. The Uganda National Meteorological Authority recently in the September-December 2022 Rainfall outlook warned that the Rwenzori sub region which takes charge of the districts of Kasese, Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Kabarole and Bunyangabu is currently in the middle of the seasonal rainfall that they said will continue until mid to late November.
