UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
NATURAL DISASTERS
Eastern Uganda has suffered not only from man-made disasters, but also from
many natural disasters that have caused mass instability, displacement and
unaddressed loss and trauma.
88. Conflict between Nature and Humans (Time immemorial - present)
Natural disasters such as land and mud-slides, floods and droughts have repeatedly
been a source of suffering in Bulambuli, causing the loss of lives, destruction of property
and massive displacement. The people of upper Bulambuli live in fear as major cracks,
stretching over 15 kilometres, leave the area vulnerable to new land and mud-slides. 411
Participants expressed their sorrow while reminiscing about the August 2011 landslide.
Caused by heavy rainfall, this displaced hundreds of households and caused several
deaths across the district. Similar deaths and displacement also occurred in Bududa
District following a massive landslide in 2010, resulting in a massive resettlement scheme
implemented by the Government. 412
Pleas to the Government from the affected population of Bulambuli district for
resettlement to safer areas have been in vain. The survivors of the landslides who lost
their loved ones are requesting a special remembrance of the deceased through the
construction of memorial sites. Initiatives to prevent landslides such as tree planting
have commenced, but little is being done by the Government to address emotional
distress and other consequences of the landslides. 413
411 Research conducted in Bulambuli District
412 Refugee Law Project (2012) From arid zones into the desert: The Uganda national IDP policy
implementation 2004-2012, working paper no. 23
413 Research conducted in Bulambuli District
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