By Innocent Atuganyira
Masindi: Residents of Kimengo Sub-County in Buruli Constituency Masindi district are anticipating hunger and disease outbreaks in their area following the flooding, which has destroyed acres of food crops and submerged toilets and water sources.
The most affected villages are Karangwe, Matugo, Kahiira, and Mweebwa 1, 2, and 3, among others.
Speaking to this publication Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Robert Atugonza, a resident of Mweebwa 1 village, explained that he has lost everything he had and is expecting a hunger outbreak since. ‘’I don’t have hope of having food in the future because I have lost everything I had,’’ he explained.
Mrs. Jane Kusemererwa, a resident of Karangwe village, asserts that she injected a lot of money this season, expecting to get profits and have food, but now her hope is lost. She is therefore appealing for government intervention since she has lost whatever she had.
Mr. Bright Mugume, the LC3 Chairperson for Kimengo Sub County, said most of the gardens in his subcounty have been submerged by flooding water and food crops have been destroyed, adding that domestic animals have also been affected, noting that they don’t have anything to eat.
He also noted that over 12 houses have been submerged by the flooding water, people don’t have places to sleep, and they have opted to get accommodation in churches and schools. ‘’Over 12 houses have been submerged by the flooding water, some roads have been cut off, and people don’t have places to sleep, so they have opted to get accommodation in churches and schools,’’ he added.
Mugume is also anticipating disease outbreaks like cholera and hunger since most gardens, toilets, and water sources in the sub county have been submerged by flooding water. ‘’We anticipate hunger and disease outbreaks because toilets, water sources, and most of the gardens have been submerged,’’ he further added.
The politician suspects the flooding water to have emanated from River Kafu through Masindi Port and Karangwe village, noting that it had taken about three years without expressing flooding water from River Kafu. ‘’It had taken about three years without flooding; we are suspecting the flooding water to have emanated from the River Kafu through Masindi Port and Karangwe village,’’ he disclosed.
Mr. Job Byaruhanga, the Masindi district agricultural officer, said they will assess the crops and properties destroyed by the flooding water and write to the office of the Chief Administrative Officer, who will forward the matter to the office of the prime minister for relief response.
He advised farmers who have been affected to abandon the affected fields, noting that they are expecting more rain compared to other seasons, which is likely to go up to mid-December this year.
‘’Though we are expecting more rain up to mid-December, farmers should only plant cassava and sweet potatoes because they can survive the dry spell compared to other crops,’’ he advised.
In September this year, the hailstorm hit the sub counties of Pakanyi and Kiruli and destroyed a number of crops and houses.
Do you have a story about your community or an opinion to share with us? Email us at theugreports@gmail.com.
