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Landslide survivors find hope in groundwater

By IW:LEARN

January 21^st, 2025

In November 2024, at least 15 people died, and 113 others went missing after landslides buried homes in six villages in eastern Uganda, with another 15 injured individuals rescued and taken to Buluganya Health Center.

The Uganda Red Cross Society reported that 13 bodies were recovered from the 40 homes affected by the landslides, which were triggered by heavy rains in the mountainous Bulambuli district.

The affected area spanned about 50 acres, including homesteads and farmland.

In the aftermath of such devastating landslides that have ravaged parts of Eastern Uganda, particularly the mountainous districts of Bududa, Bulambuli, Sironko, and Manafwa for several years, survivors have found new hope in an unlikely source: groundwater.

Situated on the slopes of Mt. Elgon, Bugisu and Sebei have both suffered several natural disasters, especially landslides.

Environmentalists in the region blame climate change, which is leading to heavy rainfall causing landslides. The situation has been exacerbated by a high population explosion, which has led to the clearing of protected ecosystems like forests that used to hold the slopes’ soil.

Over the last two decades, thousands of homes have been buried, roads washed away, and crucial infrastructure destroyed.

As a result, access to clean water has become one of the most pressing needs for affected communities, as many water sources have been contaminated or destroyed. Groundwater, which is plentiful in the Mount Elgon Aquifer, becomes the first option.

Bunambutye resettlement camp is home to hundreds of the landslides survivors. Photo By Javier Silas Omagor

Groundwater Solutions in the Elgon region

In response, the Office of the Prime Minister and several organizations have since stepped in to provide sustainable groundwater solutions to the survivors.

Through drilling boreholes, wells, and solar-powered water pumps, the landslide survivors and communities in the affected areas now have access to reliable and clean water sources, even during the dry seasons when surface water is scarce.

One of the most significant interventions has been the construction of solar-powered boreholes in Bunambutye that were previously reliant on surface water sources, which have been either destroyed by landslides or made unsafe due to contamination.

Solar pumps are ideal for these areas, as they provide a reliable water supply and ensure that the systems are sustainable and affordable in the long term.

These solar-powered systems can pump water from deep underground reserves, providing a consistent and safe water supply without depending on the grid or expensive fuel-driven generators.

Springs and boreholes are a lifeline for several communities in Africa. Photo by Jesse Chenge

A Lifeline for Survivors

For Stella Nabukwasi, who lost her family in the 2010 Bududa landslides, life in the Bunambutye resettlement camp has been tough, with water scarcity being her major challenge.

“Now, I must say that the installation of a borehole has brought immense relief,”

Nabukwasi explains.

“Before this borehole, we had to walk miles to find water, and even then, drinking was not safe. After the landslides, the nearby streams were either buried or polluted. This borehole has changed everything,”

she smiles as she fills her jerry can with water.

Like many others, Nabukwasi can now use water for daily household needs and farming, which is crucial for her family’s recovery.

The reliable water supply also allows her to restart her agricultural activities, growing vegetables and crops like maize and beans, which were previously too risky due to water shortages.

Water for Agriculture and Livelihoods

In addition to providing water for consumption, groundwater interventions help survivors restore their agricultural activities.

Many landslide survivors rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, and without reliable water, rebuilding their farming operations seemed impossible.

Boreholes are becoming a key component in Eastern Uganda as communities increasingly rely on groundwater. Photo By Javier Silas Omagor

With the help of irrigation systems powered by groundwater, farmers can grow crops year-round, reducing their vulnerability to the erratic rainfall patterns that have worsened in recent years due to climate change.

Some of these systems use drip irrigation, which delivers water directly to the base of plants, reducing water wastage and ensuring that crops receive adequate moisture.

This has increased food security in affected households and improved income generation for women, who are the primary caregivers and smallholder farmers in the region.

Partnerships for Sustainable Solutions

The success of these groundwater interventions in Mt. Elgon results from close collaboration between local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the natural disaster communities.

Engineer Denis Ngabirano from the Ministry of Water and Environment says,

“The intention is to ensure that landslide survivors and the entire community in Mt. Elgon have accessible, clean, safe, and reliable water.”

“Groundwater is proving to be essential for our local population here, and we vow to continue supporting them as the Ministry of Water and Environment,”

Ngabirano boasts.

Organizations like WaterAid Uganda and the Uganda Red Cross have been leading the way in providing technical support, equipment, and training for local communities on the maintenance and management of groundwater systems.

Local government agencies, including the Ministry of Water and Environment, have also played a key role in ensuring these projects align with national water security strategies and policies.

In addition, the government has initiated a “Water for All” program in the Mt. Elgon region, which aims to increase access to safe and reliable water for communities affected by natural disasters and climate change.

This program has led to the drilling of over 30 new boreholes in the landslide-prone districts, and efforts are underway to increase the number of solar-powered water systems in these vulnerable areas.

Groundwater as a Climate Resilience Strategy

While groundwater has provided immediate relief to landslide survivors, experts believe it also holds long-term potential as a tool for climate resilience in the slopes of Mt. Elgon and entire Eastern Uganda.

With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as heavy rains, droughts, and landslides, groundwater could offer a sustainable solution for communities to adapt to the changing climate.

Dr. Paul Muhumuza, a water resources expert with the Uganda National Water and Sewerage Corporation, notes that groundwater can provide a stable water source for years to come, even in times of crisis.

“By tapping into underground water reserves, communities can reduce their dependence on surface water sources, which are more vulnerable to climate change impacts,”

he explains.

Challenges Ahead

However, while groundwater technology has proven to be an essential resource for landslide survivors, challenges remain. The cost of drilling and installing boreholes and maintaining solar-powered systems is a significant barrier for some communities.

There is also the need for continuous education on water conservation and proper sanitation practices to prevent groundwater contamination.

Additionally, groundwater resources must be carefully managed to ensure sustainability. Over-extraction and poor management could deplete water sources, affecting future generations.

Meanwhile, as survivors in Eastern Uganda rebuild their lives and communities after frequent landslides, groundwater technology offers more than a temporary solution. It provides hope, security, and a path toward greater climate resilience.

About the project

This story was produced with support from NBI Secretariat (Nile-Sec), which, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented a program across the Nile Basin focused on shared groundwater aquifers. The project’s goal was to improve water resource management at both the national and basin levels.

The first phase concentrated on building knowledge and capacity for the sustainable use and management of significant transboundary aquifers within the Nile Basin. Three aquifer areas were selected for intervention: the Kagera aquifer, shared by Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi; the Mt Elgon aquifer, shared by Uganda and Kenya; and the Gedaref-Adigrat aquifer, shared by Sudan and Ethiopia. These aquifers are located in various climates, including arid, semi-arid, and tropical regions.

Initially, the phase involved gathering existing data and creating a Shared Aquifer Diagnostic Report (SADA) for the three selected aquifers. The subsequent phase engaged in groundwater modeling to enhance understanding of the aquifers and analyze scenarios based on changes in climate and groundwater use.

For more information, contact the Project Manager, Maha Abdelraheem Ismail (mabdelraheem@nilebasin.org), visit the project website or view the dedicated project page on iwlearn.net.