A heavy toll from landslides and floods in Rwanda and Uganda

Heavy rainfall in recent days has caused extensive flooding and large numbers of landslides in Rwanda and Uganda.  Worst hit has been Rwanda, where the toll is reported to be at least 129 people.  The majority of the losses have occurred in Northern and Western Provinces, primarily in the districts of Ngororero (23 fatalities), Rubavu, Nyabihu (17 fatalities), Rutsiro (26 fatalities) and Karongi (16 fatalities) in Western Province.  It is unclear as to the exact location of the landslides, but The New Times reports that four people were killed in a landslide in Rugerero sector, Rubavu district, whilst a further four people were critically injured.

This tweet appears to show landslides triggered by the rainfall, which fell on 2 and 3 May 2023:-

I am deeply sadned that more than 130 lost their lives due to the landslide and floods caused by heavy rains hit at night in Northern and Western provinces in Rwanda. pic.twitter.com/0oVEuGNdRt

— Mohamed A (@MohamedHachi99) May 3, 2023

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Meanwhile, Uganda has also been hit hard.  Uganda Radio Network indicated that 18 people were killed in Kigezi region, with the damage mainly occurring in Rubanda, Kisoro and Rukiga.  It appears that deaths occurred in multiple landslides.  This slope failure occurred in Murora, Kisoro district:-

A landslide in Murora sub county, Kisoro district, Uganda. Image from Uganda Radio Network.

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Both Rwanda and Uganda regularly suffer from substantial numbers of landslides triggered by heavy rainfall. For example, in 2018 at least 50 people were killed in Bududa in Uganda, whilst Karongi in Rwanda suffered a major landslide, also in 2018, which killed 18 people.