Landslides in Uganda since 2019.

KAPCHORWA - Four members of the same household were on Saturday November 1, 2025, killed in Kapsomo Village, West Division, Kapchorwa District following heavy rainfall, which triggered a landslide.

Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) spokesperson Irene Nakasiita and local authorities said the dead included one female adult and three children.

Two survivors from the same household were rushed to Kapchorwa Hospital for medical attention.

This brings the total to 13 people who have been killed in the past two days. 

On Thursday, URCS said the incident happened, due to the ongoing heavy rains, “a mudslide occurred in Chesower, Bukwo district, resulting in three confirmed deaths (children) from one family. Uganda Red Cross volunteers are on the ground conducting assessments, and a more detailed report will be shared as soon as possible,” Nakasiita stated.

In a separate but related incident, another mudslide occurred almost at the same time at Chesum Village, Kapkwai Parish, Chema Subcounty, where a couple, Robert Masaba and his wife — sustained injuries after their home was hit by falling soil. 

They were rescued by the community and police and are also receiving treatment at Kapchorwa Hospital.

Both Uganda Police Force and URCS  report that he worst-hit area was Tuikat Sub County in Kween District, where six members of a single family died after their home was buried by mud and debris in the early hours of Thursday morning. 

Several others sustained serious injuries as heavy rains pounded the hilly terrain throughout the night.

Local authorities and residents across the Sebei sub-region are calling for urgent government intervention as heavy rains continue to batter the mountainous districts.

Meanwhile, Police have intensified sensitization efforts across the Sebei region, warning residents in landslide-prone zones to vacate until the heavy rains subside, as government agencies prepare relocation plans for the most vulnerable families.

“We urge the public, especially those residing in high-risk areas, to move away as government plans to relocate them. This is a preventive measure to avoid further loss of life as the rains continue,” said Fredmark Chesang, the Sipi Region Police Spokesperson, following a deadly mudslide that claimed four lives in Kapchorwa early Saturday morning, November 1.

On Thursday, Hope Atuhairwe, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kween, said the rain began around 8:00 p.m. and continued until morning, causing widespread destruction in Cheptus Nyatui Parish, where six people have been confirmed dead and three others seriously injured.

“A lot of gardens have been swept away, and we have sent a district team on the ground with a drone to take pictures and videos that we shall use to make an assessment of what has actually been destroyed,” Atuhairwe said.

She added that other sub-counties, including Kwosir and Moyok, remain unstable as the land continues to shift downhill.

“When it rains heavily in the upper belt, the lower belt suffers from floods. As we speak, Sudet, Kiriki sub-counties, and Chepskunya Town Council are flooded. Several homes have been submerged and property destroyed,” she explained.

Landslides in Uganda Since 2019.

Atuhairwe confirmed that the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM)  is expected to dispatch an assessment team and coordinate emergency support to affected families.
Geoffrey Chelogoi, the Kween District Chairperson, expressed deep concern over the recurring nature of disasters in the district.

“This is not the first incident. In 2021, we lost another family to a similar landslide. This area is fragile and continues to claim lives and property,” Chelogoi lamented.

He added that the OPM had previously earmarked the area for resettlement due to its high-risk terrain, but unfortunately, tragedy struck before the plan could be implemented.

“Communities are terrified, and we are already seeing signs of another landslide,” he warned.

According to Fredmark Chesang, the Sipi Region Police Spokesperson, the police and residents managed to retrieve the bodies, which were later taken to Bukwo Hospital mortuary.

He also noted that the Kapchorwa–Suam road, a key route linking Uganda and Kenya, was temporarily blocked after the SIT bridge was covered by mud and debris washed down by floodwaters.

Local authorities and residents across the Sebei sub-region are calling for urgent government intervention as heavy rains continue to batter the mountainous districts.

Relief agencies have been urged to provide emergency supplies, including food, temporary shelter, and medical aid for displaced families.

Sebei sub-region, located on the slopes of Mount Elgon, is among Uganda's most landslide-prone areas. Other areas that are prone to landslides include Elgon region, particularly the districts of Bulambuli, Bududa, Manafwa and Sironko. Other areas include Kigezi region, which includes: Kisoro, Kabale, Rukiga and Rubanda districts.

On August 25, 2025 authorities in Sebei sub-region warned residents living in landslide-prone areas to move to safer grounds immediately, as persistent heavy rains continue to increase the risk of mudslides and floods.

“A lot of gardens have been swept away, and we have sent a district team on the ground with a drone to take pictures and videos that we shall use to make an assessment of what has actually been destroyed,” Atuhairwe said.

The warning follows several days of rainfall that have raised river levels and destabilised mountain slopes across Bukwo, Kapchorwa, and Kween districts.

A week before the warning was issued, a minor landslide in Kapchorwa Municipality blocked the main access road from Kaptanya Sub-County, disrupting transport and access to essential services.

Previous fatal cases

Uganda has previously recorded heavy fatalities caused by landslides in recent years, often caused by heavy rainfall and environmental factors. Some of the most significant and recent landslides include: November 2024 landslides in the Bulambuli district killed at least 28 people, with more than 100 others reported missing. 

December 2019 landslide in Bududa district which resulted in at least 30 confirmed deaths and left many more missing; 2018 landslides in the Bududa district in eastern Uganda which killed at least 43 people; March 2010 which was one of the most devastating in Uganda's history and took place in the Bududa district, killing at least 365 people.

Factors contributing to landslides in Uganda

Torrential, prolonged rains are the primary trigger for landslides, especially in vulnerable areas. Also deforestation and unsustainable farming on mountain slopes destabilize the soil, making it more susceptible to landslides.

Experts have also attributed landslides to increasing population pressure in mountainous regions leads to settlement in high-risk areas, increasing the potential for casualties especially in the Kigezi region.

Erratic and more intense rainfall patterns have also contributed to the frequency of landslides.