Government has started a Geo-technical study of Mt. Elgon to determine the depth of the 40-kilometre crack that may result into mudslides.
The senior disaster management officer at the Office of the Prime Minister Pamela Komujuni says Makerere University civil engineering department, Geographers, National Environment Management Authority and the Ministry of Lands are studying the status of the 40km crack that cuts across three districts of Manafwa, Bududa and Sironko districts.
Dr. Yazi Bamutaze, a senior lecturer in the department of Geography, Geo-informatics and climatic science said Geotechnical studies being done by geotechnical engineers and geologists is meant acquire information regarding the physical characteristics of soil and rocks at Mt Elgon.
Dr. Bamutaze who led the team through Bumbo and Bukhokho sub-counties said the plan would be used as a rapid response to address some of the challenges and provide solutions to the disaster at Mt Elgon region.
This is the third time time government is carrying out a comprehensive study of the area in three years after Uganda Wildlife Authority and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) reported that the crack had deepened from 4 centimeters to 10 centimeters.
