Heavy rains destroy houses, crops in Bundibugyo

Bundibugyo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 300 people in Busunga town council, Bundibugyo district are out in the cold following heavy rains that destroyed their houses and several acres of crop gardens.

The rains and winds that started on Sunday night destroyed several banana plantations and houses, leaving over 300 residents homeless. The rains also blew off the roof of Busunga town council market and Busunga army barracks.

Friday Kakwanga Isaya, the LCIII Businga town, said that merchandise worth millions of shillings was destroyed by the rains. He says that there is a need to roof the town council market which accommodates more than 200 vendors.

“There is a need to re-construct this market as soon as possible because it’s important to both the business community and the town council,” Isaya noted.

Sulait Byampaka, a farmer in Mukatoke ward explained that his crop garden was destroyed by the heavy winds in just 30 minutes, adding that he is worried about how he will provide for his eight children. He hopes that the government will intervene.

“I have lost all my things including my house, I am a cobbler and have lost customer’s shoes, am asking the government for help because I cannot maintain my eight children, am currently housed by neighbours.” Byamapka cried out.

Rehema Katusiime, another victim said she lost about 1 Million Shillings when the floods destroyed her fish stock she had kept in the market.

The LCV chairperson Robert Tibakunirwa says they have asked the town clerk and the engineer to provide a report on the destroyed properties and the emergency needs that will be submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister for intervention.

Tibakunirwa also tasked the Busunga town council physical planner to present the town council development plan urgently. He blames some of the destruction on weak and unapproved structures in the town council.

“We are asking the town engineer to guide people on construction and as a government, we have asked the town clerk and the engineer to make a report that will be given to the CAO and later compelled and delivered to the OPM for intervention,” Tibakunirwa said.

Bundibugyo is among the districts that are prone to disasters especially floods and landslides.

In December 2019, floods in the district devastated 12 sub-counties from Bwamba and Bughendara counties and claimed 20 lives. The rains also washed away several crop gardens and displaced more than 1,000 households.

In May last year, another wave of floods killed a UPDF soldier and displaced more than 20 families after River Lamia burst its banks.

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