The death toll from the Bulambuli mudslide has risen to 28 after additional bodies were recovered on Monday.
According to Rogers Taitika, Elgon region police spokesperson, the increase in recoveries follows the deployment of an excavator, which has been instrumental in exhuming bodies buried deep in the mud.
Taitika reported that by the end of Sunday, 22 bodies had been recovered. However, the excavator unearthed five more bodies on Monday, while another victim died at Muyembe health center IV bringing the total to 28.
“The excavator is digging deeper compared to the hand hoes previously used by community members, which could not reach certain depths. We expect to recover more bodies as the operation continues,” Taitika said.
Irene Muloni, Bulambuli District Woman MP, has urged the government to expedite the resettlement of hundreds of displaced people currently housed in overcrowded internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
Muloni warned that delays in resettlement could lead to dire consequences, including the outbreak of hygiene-related diseases and an increase in crimes such as defilement and rape due to overcrowding in the camps.
“If the government delays in resettling these people, we anticipate worse outcomes, including unhygienic diseases and increased crime rates,” she cautioned.
Recovery operations continue, with authorities and humanitarian agencies working to address the immediate needs of the affected families.