The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Landslide victims in Bududa and Sironko district spent Christmas day on empty stomachs. Christmas is a day for merrymaking across the world as Christians remember the birth of Jesus Christ.
However, this wasn’t the case for landslide victims spread in camps in Bugimagu, Nalusalala and Bumumulo camps in Zesui Sub County in Sironko district. By 2pm when our reporter visited the camps, cooking was yet to start and there was no indication that it would start anytime soon.
Some of the landslide victims had moved to look for food from their neighbors and relatives. In Nalsalala camp, a Good Samaritan from the community had donated four kilograms of meat, which was supposed to be shared by the over 700 people in the camp.
However, the victims didn’t have firewood to cook the meat and rice that was donated by government. At Bugimagu camp, the landslide victims were preparing to cook rice and beans, which had just been donated by the aspiring Budadiri East Member of parliament, Richard Masereje.
He also donated Shillings 200,000 for the purchase of saucepans for the victims. Masereje asked government to find a lasting solution to the disasters.
The situation wasn’t any different at Bumumulo primary school camp. There was no sign of cooking in the camp by 2pm. The Camp Chairperson, Patrick Mafabi told Uganda Radio Network that they didn’t have firewood to cook. Some of the victims reminisced the good festive seasons.
“The previous years, I have been having a joyful celebration with my family during this Christmas holidays. I would cook my own food and there would be a variety but look up to now we haven’t even eaten anything,” said Beatrice Namulembwa in Nalsalala camp.
The mother of eight said she was even unable to buy her children new clothes as it has been a routine to buy new clothes for her children every year. According to Namulembwa, all she had was swept by the landslides living her and her children without anything.
70-year-old Ferista Wobuyega is also living in Nalsalala camp with her four grandchildren. She described this Christmas festive as the hardest she has experienced in her life time.
She says that before she was displaced from her home, she would never fail to put food on the table for her grandchildren. Wobuyega explained that she would sell bananas from her plantation to provide for her children.
Like Ferista, Antonina Mulenje, a mother of 11 has also had hard times this Christmas season. She says they are only surviving at the mercy of well-wishers and donors. Mulenje says that she decided to send 7 of her 11 children to her relatives because she had nothing to offer them in the camp.
Margret Muzaki, a victim in Bugimagu camp, said that they don’t have enough plates and saucepans to cook the rice they were given by government.
Stephen Wobudeya, the LC I chairperson Bugimagu village and the Camp Chairperson, Patrick Mafabi, said they received relief rice from the office of the Prime minister but don’t have any sauce and salt so people are only depending on rice.
Mafabi said some of his people had to spend the day with their relatives because they wanted to change meals. The situation wasn’t any different in Bududa where landslides swept away Namasa, Shikhururwe, and Naposhi villages in Bushika Sub County displacing over 200 families.
Beth Bisikwa, one of the victims and survivor said she lost everything in the mudslide. According to Bisikwa, all the money they had saved for Christmas through Naposhi women saving group was lost in the mudslide. The group members were expected to share the money this festive season to help them have a joyful celebration.
Norah Namono, another victim said they even lack what to dress since all their clothes were swept away. She asked government to expedite their relocation process to rescue them from the disasters. Michael Nakasala, another victim accused government of neglecting them, saying they should have provided them some relief for the festive season.
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