Heavy rains wreak havoc on businesses, schools across Uganda

Mbale, (UG):- The ongoing environmental changes across the Country and the World at large have caused more harm than good. This has been characterised by a mixture of excessive heat and heavy rainfall in uncoordinated weather patterns that masses are not accustomed to.

Across the country, the heavy rains have wreaked havoc leading to the disruption of businesses, education and farming.

In Mbale District, for example, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Branch located adjacent to Bungokho Subcounty Headquarters, suffered damage to its only pit latrine last year in December due to heavy rains which forced the leadership to embark on the construction of a new waterborne toilet worth 25 Million Shillings.

Mr. David Mabonga, Branch Director, YMCA Mbale Branch, posted on one of his social media handles, saying, “YMCA Community Water borne Toilets, Bathrooms and Urinals at Bungokho progressing well. Remember recently we launched an appeal as the Old Latrine was put down by heavy rains. We still appeal for Plumbing support as final touch shall be Terrazzo and painting”.

In neighbouring Sironko district on Wednesday (yesterday), Bukiisa Sub County Headquarters and Nalugugu Primary School were submerged in water after a heavy downpour.

Mr. Mabonga who also happens to be a resident of Nambale in Bungokho, Mbale District and a farmer also decried the destruction of crops by the heavy rains in the area. He posted three days back, “Now this is our Nambale in Bungokho Mbale – my home area code. That sweet nice nice-looking Cabbage and Sukuma wiki of one farmer is no more. He was praying that such wouldn’t happen for only next two weeks. The Floods have destroyed all. These are the type of persons who need emergency support”.

And on Thursday morning (today), Kampala, Uganda’s capital was not spared of the heavy rains according to INGO LIVE a Bagisu social media news page which reported on Facebook thus, “The heavy rain that started at around 4 am on Thursday left several roads, including Kinawataka-Kireka road cut off.”

The outlet added; “Motorists were held for long hours in traffic jams as they struggled to access Kampala City due to flooded roads. At Katogo junction where the water submerged the bridge, locals said a boda boda rider drowned in the morning hours as he tried to cross the road”.