Over 500 Villages in Namisindwa Face Displacement Threat as Landslide Cracks Expand

More than 500 villages in Namisindwa District are at risk of displacement after large and widening ground cracks and landslide fissures appeared across several sub-counties, with local leaders warning of a worsening disaster driven by persistent heavy rainfall.

The affected areas include Buwabwala, Bumumali, Tsekululu, Mukoto, and Luwa Town Council, where residents say the expanding earth cracks have created fear and uncertainty as rains continue to pound the region.

According to reports, the fissures became more severe following Wednesday’s heavy downpour, leading to damage of homes, gardens, and local infrastructure. Several houses have developed serious structural weaknesses, while farmland has been heavily affected by landslides and flash floods.

Namisindwa District Chairperson Emma Bwayo, who visited the affected communities, said urgent government intervention is needed to prevent further destruction and possible loss of life.

“It is time for government to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves. We should not wait for people to lose their lives before taking action,” he said.

He added that the district is preparing a detailed report to be submitted to the central government, calling for emergency relief and long-term solutions for communities living in landslide-prone areas.

Tsekululu and Bungati district councilor Betty Nandutu said residents are living in constant fear as flooding worsens and crops are destroyed, raising concerns about growing food insecurity.

She warned that if no swift action is taken, hunger could become another major crisis in the area, noting that agricultural losses may reverse progress made under government livelihood programs such as the Parish Development Model.

Residents in the affected villages said they are trapped between the danger of collapsing homes and the lack of safe relocation options, leaving many living in constant anxiety.

Local residents, including Khaukha Cassim, Makati Patrick, and Elvis Wamono, said the situation has become increasingly alarming as cracks continue to widen around their homes.

“We sleep in houses that could collapse at any time. Every day we fear for our lives, but we have nowhere else to go,” one of the residents said.

Leaders are now calling for urgent evacuation measures, emergency assistance, and long-term mitigation plans to protect vulnerable communities from recurring landslides.

Namisindwa District, located on the slopes of Mount Elgon, has long been prone to landslides during heavy rains, raising ongoing concerns about the safety of settlements in high-risk zones.