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Bulambuli locals ask govt to continue with search, rescue mission for missing landslide victims

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Bulambuli locals ask govt to continue with search, rescue mission for missing landslide victims
Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing.

Tragedy struck Bulambuli on November, 28.

In a desperate plea for more time, survivors of the catastrophic landslide in Bunambutye are urging the Ugandan government to extend the ongoing search and recovery operations for victims they say are still buried under the mud.

Government had set December 27 as the  deadline to end the search, declaring the site a mass grave after a month of digging.

However, local communities are requesting an additional month to ensure all bodies are recovered, as many victims remain missing.

Since the tragic event in November, the remains of 40 individuals have been exhumed from the debris, but survivors believe that many more have yet to be found.

Lorna Nakayenze, a resident of Masugu village, is among those desperately searching for missing family members.

"Saul Nakoko, along with his wife and three children, are still buried under the mud," she said.

Mangret Neumbe, a survivor from Tagalu village, provided a heartbreaking account of her missing relatives.

Neumbe identified her sister, Rose Nabuduwa, 40, and her granddaughter, Mary Nbukonde, 3, as well as Base Nabukonde, 38, and her 3-year-old grandson, Sam Wagidoso.

While three of the bodies have been recovered, Sam Wagidoso is still missing.

"We have found three, but Sam is still underground," Neumbe says, her voice filled with anguish. "Authorities said they will withdraw on the 27th, but there are still many people under the rubble."

Peter Makoba, another resident who escaped the tragedy with his family, but lost his home and several neighbors.

He shared that a member named Weduku, along with his daughter, perished in the landslide, though only the daughter’s body has been recovered.

Makoba also mentioned that Paul Sirikye, the village Chairman of Masugu, was found, but his wife, Nabusoba, and granddaughter remain buried. Namuzekye’s daughter and granddaughter, identified as Namogoyi, are also still missing.

He added that the late Mzee Banzilio Namisi's daughter retrieved but wife and grandchild missing.

Faheera Mpalanzi, the RDC of Bulambuli, noted that the pace and intensity of the recovery efforts have slowed over time acknowledging that over 100 people could have been buried on  November, 28, during the landslide.

The search efforts, which have already uncovered dozens of bodies, involve government officials, army rescue teams, and local community members working tirelessly.

However, the Ugandan government has expressed concerns over the logistical challenges of continuing the search and maintaining equipment for an extended period.

While authorities debate the future of the search, the people of Bunambutye hold on to hope, unwilling to give up their efforts to find and give proper burials to their loved ones.

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