Landslides in Uganda claim 43 lives

Landslides in a mountainous region of Uganda killed at least 43 people overnight and left more than 100 others missing in the East African nation, police said.

The landslides occurred yesterday about 275km east of the capital, Kampala, in the mountainous region of Bududa. The area has long suffered from landslides but rarely has the death toll been so high. Joel Aguma, a police commander, said police and rescuers headed to the site early yesterday.

Aguma said the death toll could be even higher. Emergency crews have arrived in the area while the Red Cross has sent a team of doctors.

Parts of Uganda have had sustained rainfall over the past two months.

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