Hundreds stranded after heavy rains ravage homes, schools in Kikuube

KIKUUBE, UGANDA: More than 100 people in various parts of Kikuube District are out in the cold following the Tuesday evening downpour coupled with strong winds and hailstorms that destroyed their homes and several food crop gardens.

The rains that started on Tuesday evening at around 3:30 pm unroofed several houses in Butimba village, a 3-classroom block at Wambabya primary school and several banana plantations, and other food crops in Kidoma parish, Kiziranfumbi Sub-county in Kikuube District.

Sauya Nyakate the head teacher at Wambabya Primary School says the rains which lasted for at least one hour and a half coupled with strong winds and hailstorms blew off the roofs of 3 classrooms.

Nyakate says the demise came in after receiving donations from World Vision an NGO and when pupils had gone back home.

“Three classrooms including primary one, three and four and other neighbouring houses were unroofed, banana plantations and other food crops were also destroyed by heavy winds and hailstorm here in Wambabya, Kidoma and Butimba villages all in Kiziranfumbi Sub county,” she said.

Nyakate asked the government and well wishes to provide aid to Wambabya primary school and other affected residents.

The heavy rains also unroofed Buhimba Health Center III staff quarters and two houses in Kyeganywa cell Buhimba town council and several plantations in Kabwoya Sub-county in Kikuube District.

Mr. Innocent Kusiima the Buhimba Health Center III in charge says one of the staff quarters roofs was blown off by the strong winds in Buhimba town council.

Francis Tumwesige a resident of Butimba cell Kidoma parish Kiziranfumbi Sub county in Kikuube District says his family of 10 people were left homeless after their family house was destroyed by the Tuesday evening rains and his banana plantation and other food crops were destroyed by hailstorm which he suspects famine outbreak in case government and other partners fail to intervene.

“My family house was destroyed, not only me but also other people in the village, banana plantations and other food crops were also destroyed by the strong winds and hailstorm. So we no longer have a resting place and also we are expecting food scarcity since all our cassava, potato and banana gardens were all swept away,” he said.

Meanwhile, Peter Banura the Kikuube District chairperson promised the matter so as to look for ways on how to compensate the victims.

“As district leaders, we have a task force to the affected villages to ascertain the damages on the ground and look for some possible ways on how to compensate the victims,” said Mr Banura.

Mr Banura also warned residents to be security conscious during the rainy season by setting up means of reducing natural hazards caused by rains.

“Am warning parents to desist their from playing rain showers to prevent them from being struck by lightning and also plant trees around your homes which will act as windbreakers so as to reduce the rate of house unroofing,” he added.