Heavy rainfall in eastern Uganda triggered devastating landslides that buried entire villages, claiming the lives of at least 15 people and leaving more than 100 others missing.

On Thursday, authorities updated the death toll to 15, with 113 still unaccounted for after landslides struck six villages in the mountainous Bulambuli district the previous night. The powerful forces of nature submerged homes, leaving only remnants of what once stood in its wake.
Local media broadcasts showed wide swaths of displaced earth in Masugu village, about a five-hour drive from the capital, Kampala. Videos and photographs circulating on social media depicted emergency responders desperately digging through the debris in Kimono village, searching for survivors.
The Uganda Red Cross Society reported that the rescue operation was ongoing, though they warned that the toll could rise as more bodies are uncovered. District Commissioner Faheera Mpalanyi told AFP that approximately 30 people were feared dead in her area. Six bodies, including that of an infant, had been recovered, but many others remained trapped under the rubble. “ We believe many are still buried in the debris,” she said.

The region had already been hit hard by extreme weather in recent days. Flooding in the northwest occurred after a tributary of the Nile River overflowed, cutting off major roads across the country. The prime minister’s office issued a disaster alert on Wednesday, as essential transport links, including roads to South Sudan, were blocked by water.
In one tragic turn, an emergency boat crew sent to rescue stranded motorists near Pakwach capsized, claiming the life of one engineer. Uganda’s defense forces confirmed the incident on X, deepening the nation’s grief as rescue efforts continue in the wake of this catastrophe.

With communities still reeling and the full scope of the damage not yet clear, the people of Bulambuli face an uncertain and devastating time.