Lake Albert floods fueled by heavy inflows from Rwenzori mountains – NEMA

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Continuous rains and inflows from rivers around the Rwenzori region are responsible for the rising water levels in Lake Albert and flooding of surrounding areas.

The floods have devastated several areas in Ntoroko district where more than 70,000 people are living in camps in Kanara sub-county, 1,300 homes are abandoned and uncountable properties destroyed.

Jaconius Musingwire, the Western region manager of the National Environment Management Authority -NEMA observes that heavy water inflows especially from rivers streaming out of the Rwenzori mountains have significantly increased the water volumes in Lake Albert.

The situation he says has been worsened by silt that has been carried down into the lake raising the water levels. Musingwire says there is a need for a multi-sectoral approach to deal with environmental degradation in the region which has left the earth clear of natural vegetation cover.

Meanwhile, Ntoroko district administration needs at least 4 billion Shillings to resettle flood victims displaced by the rising water levels. In an interaction with a URN, the flood victims appealed to the government to resettle them anticipating that the floods may not rescind soon.

Ben Muthahinga, the acting district chairperson says the money will be used to construct temporary resettlement structures, pit latrines, installation of water tanks and boreholes.

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