Homes, crops destroyed as floods hit Bugweri residents

BUGWERI, UGANDA: More than 50 families in Buyanga and Ibulanku sub counties in Bugweri district were affected following heavy rains that destroyed their homes and crops.

The heavy rain that was characterized by strong winds pounded the area yesterday Sunday night from 7pm and lasted for close to three hours.  

The rain destroyed houses and several acres of crop gardens and the most affected areas are Kiwanyi, Bubbala and Bumoozi villages in Buyanga Sub County and Ibaako village in Ibulanku Sub County among others. 

Magumba Dawudi, of Bumoozi village is one of those whose houses were destroyed.  He says the rains blew off the rooftop of their houses and destroyed their entire banana plantations and other crop like cassava and Maize.    

Magumba says they are worried and may fail to raise school fees for their children and food for their families since the banana plantations and several crops like cassava and Maize they were depending on are no more.

Naiwumbwe Perepetwa, a resident of  Bubbala village has expressed fears since she has been raising her income from her banana plantation but was destroyed by the heavy rains. 

Kakaire Waiswa Yosia, the Bumoozi LC 1 Chairperson told this website that the disaster has greatly affected food production in the area, adding that some families have been left homeless.  He said that Magumba’s house which was affected most fortunately found when no one was inside at the moment of the heavy downpour. He has called for authorities to intervene with a helping hand.

Kalange Stephen and Namumbya Sarah, all residents of Ibaako village in Ibulanku Sub county said that their crops like Maize, cassava, rice, among others were destroyed and their domestic birds died after the collapsing trees striking the make shits where they keep their birds.

The chairperson LC 3 Ibulanku Sub county, Ndhoga Ibrahim has promised his locals that he will work together with the whole leadership of Bugweri district to see that the affected families are helped as in food and other related relief. He also called upon officials in the disaster preparedness ministry under office of the prime minister to intervene saying that it’s the first of it’s kind since they started receiving rains this year.

The chairperson Bugweri district, Hajji Muziransa Shafick Falaji has since visited the affected people in Ibulanku Sub county particularly Ibaako village and said that they are currently profiling the affected people and forward the list to the Office of the Prime Minister for assistance. He was accompanied by some district officials from the District Internal Security Office.

 Magumba Dawudi, whose house collapsed wholly as a result of this heavy rain, together with his family have taken shelter at the residence of LC 1 Chairperson Bumoozi while others whose houses were not badly affected have since decided to take shelter in their kitchens and other sections of their houses which were not affected.