When heavy rains pounded the hills of Bulambuli District on November 27, 2024, they did more than just trigger landslides. They ripped through eight villages, burying lives, dreams, and homes under tons of mud and stone. At least 49 lives were lost. Thirty-eight people went missing. Over 12,000 were displaced.

For Wolayo Elizabeth, a resident of Buluganya village, life changed in a heartbeat.
“Stones destroyed my home and killed members of my family,” she said, her voice steady but her eyes distant. “I was left with nothing.”

In the middle of this darkness, hope arrived in the form of the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS).

Backed by the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), and working under the coordination of the Office of the Prime Minister and the Bulambuli District Disaster Management Committee, URCS mobilized quickly.

Within hours, more than 30 trained volunteers, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), and National Disaster Response Teams (NDRTs) were on the ground. They helped pull survivors from rubble, treated the wounded, offered psychosocial support, and helped reconnect separated families.

Brenda Atero, who led the URCS Response Operations, recalls those first 72 hours.
“Our volunteers helped manage fear, addressed misinformation, and provided life-saving first aid. In a crisis, that human touch matters.”

A temporary emergency clinic and ambulance service were set up immediately. But the needs went beyond medicine. URCS established a Holding Centre in Bunambutye, where they pitched four large tents, distributed 113 shelter kits, 300 non-food item kits, and provided 300 Menstrual Hygiene Management kits to women and girls.

For Wasagali Agatha, the hygiene kits were more than just items—they were dignity restored.
“Before the intervention, we used old clothes during our periods. It was risky and humiliating,” she said. “Now we have reusable pads and feel safe again. Thanks to Uganda Red Cross Society.”

Recognizing the threat of disease, URCS took proactive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) measures. They built 60 stances of emergency pit latrines, installed a T70 water tank that treated and distributed 2.3 million liters of clean water, and distributed aqua tabs and sanitation toolkits.

“We reached over 12,000 people with hygiene education. We knew we were amidst an Mpox epidemic and couldn’t risk a cholera outbreak,” said William Mugabi, URCS Sironko Branch Manager.

Remarkably, despite the high population density at the Holding Centre, no major disease outbreaks were reported—a testament to the efficiency of the URCS WASH response.

But perhaps the most transformative intervention was the Multipurpose Cash Assistance program.

“I bought a goat as a way of remembering the Red Cross support,” said Nambozo Sandra, one of the 367 individuals who received cash support ranging from UGX 470,000 to UGX 720,000 based on family size.

According to Vanessa Lubowa, the URCS Cash and Voucher Assistance Lead, this approach gives people power to rebuild their lives with dignity.
“This kind of support enables affected people to regain stability, uphold their dignity, and rebuild a sense of belonging,” she said.

Beyond aid, URCS also helped people find purpose again. Community members were organized into sanitation committees, trained to manage hygiene facilities, and engaged in constructing disability-friendly latrines and child-friendly spaces.

Manana Pascal, one of the residents at the holding center, reflected on the healing power of involvement. “We were part of the solution, digging, cleaning, organizing. It gave us back a sense of dignity.”

Brig. Gen. Fred Rugadya, Director of the National Emergency Coordination and Operations Centre, praised URCS for its unwavering presence.

“Wherever disaster strikes, URCS is there. They are more than responders; they are partners in saving lives and rebuilding communities.”

As the sun slowly rises again over the hills of Bulambuli, the scars of the landslide remain. But so does a powerful sense of community and the gratitude for those who came when it mattered most.

“This operation reflects our commitment to restoring hope and protecting lives,” said Brenda Atero. “But the journey isn’t over. We must now work toward long-term recovery.”

Indeed, for survivors like Wolayo Elizabeth and Sandra Nambozo, the storm may have taken everything but it didn’t take hope.