The East African country has been deluged by heavy rains in past days, with the government issuing a national disaster alert after reports of flooding and landslides. Landslides late on Wednesday hit the village of Masugu in the eastern Bulambuli district, about five hours from the capital, Kampala.

“A total of 15 bodies have been retrieved,” the Ugandan police said […] “Unfortunately, 113 people are still missing, but efforts are underway to locate them,” it said. The statement said five villages – Masugu, Namachele, Natola, Namagugu, and Tagalu – had been impacted.

District commissioner Faheera Mpalanyi said early Thursday that six bodies, including a baby, had been recovered so far from Masugu village. “Given the devastation and the size of the area affected and from what the affected families are telling us, several people are missing and probably buried in the debris,” she said.

Some 500 soldiers had been deployed to help with the rescue but only 120 had managed to reach the villages, Nabbanja said.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja

The rains caused flooding in the northwest after a tributary of the Nile River burst its banks.