Panic has gripped residents and local leaders in Nyarusiza Sub-county, Kisoro District, after massive cracks developed on the slopes of Mount Muhabura, putting nearly 700 homes and livelihoods at risk.
The concern follows an assessment by officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), who warned that widening cracks could trigger a major disaster. Residents in the most affected areas have since been advised to prepare for possible relocation to safer locations.
Speaking to The Homeland Newspaper, Nyarusiza Sub-county LCIII Chairperson Elasmus Nsabimana said the OPM assessment identified Buzeyi Village, Kabaale Village and parts of Nyagihegye Village as the areas most vulnerable to landslides and other disaster risks.
He urged residents to remain calm, stay alert and cooperate with government teams as authorities develop disaster preparedness and mitigation measures.
Nyarusiza LCV Woman Councillor Joyce Mutuzo Nsaba called on the government to organise community sensitisation meetings to explain the assessment findings and the reasons relocation may become necessary.
“Many residents are hesitant to move because they do not know where they will be resettled or how they will restart their lives,” Nsaba said.
Meanwhile, Kabaale Village LCI Chairperson Benon Bizimana raised concerns about relocating affected families without compensation.
“I call on government to pay affected households and to invest in water management structures on Mount Muhabura to control runoff. Heavy runoff has worsened soil erosion and increased danger to nearby communities,” Bizimana said.
Mount Muhabura, also known as Mount Muhavura, is a dormant stratovolcano located in the Virunga Mountain range along the Uganda-Rwanda border. Standing at 4,127 metres above sea level, it is the third tallest of the eight Virunga volcanoes.
Although the mountain has not erupted in recorded history, geological studies indicate that it was active during the Holocene period. Its steep slopes, combined with heavy rainfall and surface runoff, make surrounding communities vulnerable to soil erosion, landslides and slope failures.
Some residents have expressed fears that the cracks could be a sign of volcanic activity. However, experts say there is currently no scientific evidence linking the cracks to an imminent eruption.
Geologists explain that such fissures are more commonly associated with landslides, erosion, heavy rainfall or tectonic movements rather than volcanic activity.
A dormant volcano is defined as one that is not currently erupting but still has the potential to become active again if magma rises into its chamber. An extinct volcano, on the other hand, no longer has a viable magma supply and is not expected to erupt again.
Experts, including volcanologists referenced in geological studies, note that dormant volcanoes can remain inactive for centuries before showing signs of renewed activity. The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program has also documented cases of volcanoes reawakening after long periods of inactivity.
For now, authorities say the immediate threat around Mount Muhabura is landslides and erosion rather than a volcanic eruption. They have emphasised the need for continued monitoring, public awareness and disaster preparedness to protect communities living around the mountain.
