Data assessment underway for flood victims in Dokolo

Dokolo, (UG):- Global Health Network- Uganda, a non-profit organisation has embarked on an assessment of the impact of floods following rising water levels of Lake Kwania on people in the five sub-counties in Dokolo District.

The sub-counties include; Kwera, Adeknino, Okwongodul, Agwata subcounties, and Agwata Town Council which has been submerged by water.

In April 2024, several homes were destroyed and residents displaced, gardens were flooded and hundreds of families were left with no means of livelihood, and roads were washed by flood.

Currently, approximately 152,000 people are reportedly displaced by the floods and vast areas of crops and gardens have been destroyed. 

Oscar Enyang, a Data officer for Global Health Network, the data taken will give an accurate number of persons affected by floods. He said such data shall also be used for soliciting relief aid for the affected people.

“We go deep into the household that has been a problem. We don’t want to rely on assessments done by LCs but instead, we go to the affected to prove the facts,” Enyang said, adding that during the exercise, Global Health Network-Uganda will offer some basic assistance to people affected by a flood once data collection exercise is completed.

Residents call for help

Meanwhile, the affected residents by flood are appealing for help from well-wishers to come to their rescue. They said flooding has left them with a series of problems such as the submerging of good acres of farm gardens, drinking water and roads among others.

Scovia Akullu, one of the affected residents in Apyen-nyang parish said they don’t have where to shelter themselves as a result of the floods.

“We are asking good Samaritans to come and bail us out. For now, our children can no go to school, we have nothing to eat after floods submerge our garden and we lack lacking house to sleep in. For now, we need help,” said Akullu.

Akullu ‘s plea was not far from that of Nelson Enyang of Aoha village, Apyenyang parish who said learning of their children has been greatly affected as a result of the floods taking them into refuged.

Meanwhile, David Adim Awany, the LCIII chairman of Kwera sub-county applauded Global Health Network for its timely response. He said such intervention would save many vulnerable people who are forced out of their families by the floods.

Adim also implored people who are still near water tribute to evacuate to avoid suspected flooding ahead in August.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Saturday, 20th July 2024 while addressing the nation on wealth creation and other issues of national importance at State Lodge, Nakasero. reiterated his call to wetland encroachers to vacate the natural resources peacefully. 

According to the President, the government cannot look on as some people destroy the environment. 

“Blaming NEMA on why they allowed people to settle in the wetlands and come later to evict them is of course a good point, however, it does not exonerate encroachers and their backers. Who doesn’t know what a wetland is? Are you a Ugandan or you’re from Europe? It’s a duty of everybody to defend Uganda’s survival. In any case, in the matter of the environment, we have no choice, Uganda cannot be destroyed, and we simply watch,” he said. 

“Hence, all people in the wetlands should leave peacefully, you have done enough damage, we are not prosecuting you; it’s an amnesty, simply leave. We cannot compensate you for breaking the law, it’s common sense. If we say that we compensate, it’s another way of encouraging that indiscipline to continue. We have already compensated you by not prosecuting you, so you just go.”