The Initial Start of The Tragedy
The immediate, specific cause that initiated the most recent tragic event was:
“Heavy overnight rainfall that saturated the soil, causing mud and debris to slide down the mountainsides,” resulting from “hours of torrential rainfall that loosened waterlogged soils on the slopes of Mt Elgon, sending torrents of mud and debris crashing into villages.”
These conditions created a cascading effect:
- Torrential Rain: The region, being on the slopes of Mount Elgon, was known for persistent rain. However, the tragedy was triggered by a specific period of “continuous heavy rainfall” that saturated the ground.
- Saturated Soil: This rain infiltrated the soil on the steep, vulnerable slopes of Mt. Elgon. The soil profile (often weak, porous, and underlain by clay-rich horizons) became completely “waterlogged.”
- Slope Failure: When the soil was saturated, its weight dramatically increased, and the water acted as a lubricant, reducing the friction and cohesive strength of the slope. This caused the entire layer of soil and debris to fail, resulting in a “mudslide” or “debris slump” that buried homes and roads.
Underlying Factors (Why it Happened)
This immediate trigger was made deadly by long-term environmental factors:
- Geological Vulnerability: The area is on the steep slopes of Mt. Elgon, where the terrain is naturally prone to landslides.
- Environmental Degradation: Deforestation and unsustainable farming practices (like cultivation on steep slopes and the clearing of native vegetation) loosen the soil and remove the tree roots that once held the soil together, making it highly susceptible to being washed away by rain.
- Population Pressure: Increasing settlements on these high-risk slopes put entire families directly in the path of the mudslides, turning a natural phenomenon into a humanitarian disaster.
However, in the Sebei sub-region a devastating series of landslides struck the mountainous Sebei sub-region of Eastern Uganda, leading to a significant loss of life and property.
The disaster struck specifically impacting the districts of Kapchorwa, Kween, and Bukwo on the slopes of Mount Elgon. The most affected villages include Kaptang in Kween and Kwanwa in Bukwo.
The landslides occurred over a 48-hour period, primarily on the nights of October 30 and November 1, 2025.
The confirmed death toll had rose to 18 people, with at least 10 injured. Critically, over 20 people from multiple households remain unaccounted for, feared buried under the mud.
The landslides were directly triggered by non-stop, persistent heavy rainfall in the region for over a week. The underlying cause was the area’s geography (high-altitude, mountainous terrain) and the high vulnerability of communities living in landslide-prone zones on the denuded slopes of Mt. Elgon.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) deployed a team of soldiers to assist local police and communities in the search and rescue efforts. President Museveni also extended a financial donation of Shs5 million to the families of each victim.
