More than 120,000 people mainly from Karusandara sub-county and Bulembia-Kilembe Division were displaced and their crop gardens washed away when River Nyamwamba burst its banks on Thursday Morning. Additional havoc was caused by overflows from River Nyamughasana, Mubuku, and Lhubiriha.
Kasese District has received
relief items from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) for distribution to persons
affected by floods that devastated the area during the week.
More than 120,000 people mainly
from Karusandara sub-county and Bulembia-Kilembe Division were displaced and
their crop gardens washed away when River Nyamwamba burst its banks on Thursday
Morning. Additional havoc was caused by overflows from River Nyamughasana, Mubuku, and Lhubiriha.
Known as a food basket for the region, Karusandara sub-county remains submerged, while many of the area
residents are now hosted in the six internally displaced people’s camps that
were set up in the aftermath. Other displaced residents mainly mothers are
residing in churches, open spaces and at the sub-county headquarters with their
children.
In Kilembe, most of the affected
have sought shelter from relatives in safer places. Kasese Resident District Commissioner Joe
Walusimbi has told URN that the district has received 20,000 kilograms of maize
flour, 300 blankets, 500 pieces of tarpaulins and 300 jerry cans for
distribution to the affected persons to begin with Karusandara Sub-county.
He says that the district had
distributed some little relief food from its COVID-19 allocations to the
displaced.
English//Cue in: “But I have…
Cue out…people be calm.”//
Luganda//Cue in; “Amataba bwe ga…
Cue out…Bwebibanga bisobose.”//
Jennifer Biira who lost her
saloon and household items in the tragedy requests the government to extend more items to the
affected persons especially for mothers and girls. She says that many of the mothers
do not have food for their children since the road network has been cut off by
water and all connecting bridges destroyed.
//Cue in; “The river started…
Cue in...Ka ma jumping a
mahesi.”//
Kasese Chief Administrative
Office Winston Aggrey Muramira says that the extent of the damage in the
district remains a threat to the livelihood of the locals. He says the district
has lost more than five bridges.
Disaster Preparedness Minister Musa
Ecweru visited Kilembe on Thursday and pledged that the government would offer
some immediate relief to the affected persons. He also ordered all persons in
the affected and flood-prone areas to vacate with immediate effect.
//Cue in; “Two things, the…
Cue out…reach them today.”//
An assessment by the district
disaster committee presented to officials from the OPM on Saturday, indicates
that over 123,000 people were directly by affected by the recent flooding.
