Written by: Badr Ahmed
An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale struck central Uganda on Sunday evening, according to data from international seismic monitoring centers, with no immediate reports of casualties or major material damage.
Monitoring data showed that the earthquake occurred at 18:19:09 UTC, and its epicenter was located about 37 kilometers northeast of Nakasongola in the center of the country, at latitude 1.633 degrees north and longitude 32.562 degrees east, at a depth of about 10 kilometers below the Earth's surface.
A new earthquake strikes Uganda in the African Rift Valley.
The relatively shallow depth of an earthquake is one of the factors that may increase the feeling of the earthquake among the population, even if its strength is moderate, as seismic waves travel more to the Earth's surface compared to deep earthquakes.
A number of residents in areas near the epicenter felt the tremors, while Ugandan authorities have not yet issued statements indicating any injuries or damage to infrastructure.
No large-scale emergency measures were announced following the earthquake.
Uganda is located within the East African Rift Valley, one of the most geologically active regions in Africa.
This region experiences occasional earthquakes of varying intensity as a result of continuous tectonic movements affecting the Earth's crust.
Geologists believe that moderate earthquakes, such as the recent tremor, often do not lead to widespread destruction, but they remain an indicator of ongoing geological activity in the region, which requires careful monitoring by monitoring centers and relevant authorities.
The relevant authorities in Uganda are monitoring the situation, while seismologists continue to analyze the data related to the tremor to assess the likelihood of aftershocks in the coming hours or days.
This earthquake comes at a time when several areas of East Africa are experiencing significant geological activity, which reinforces the importance of developing early warning systems and enhancing the preparedness of local communities to deal with natural disasters and reduce their potential impacts.
