Zombo, Buliisa disaster victims receive relief items from OPM seven months later

Zombo: Seven months after a devastating hailstorm and heavy rains struck Zombo District, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has donated much-needed relief items to support the affected communities.

On Thursday, January 16, 2025, the donation of 20,000 kilograms of posho and 10,000 kilograms of beans was distributed to the residents of Abanga Sub-County, who had been severely impacted by the disaster.

The relief efforts aim to address the prolonged suffering of 1,355 households in the two parishes of Pakadha and Serr, which were devastated by the unprecedented hailstorm and torrential rains in July 2024.

The storm destroyed crops including beans, maize, cassava, matooke, and coffee, as well as kitchen garden plants, creating a dire situation for local farmers facing the threat of famine.

Grace Atim, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Zombo, launched the distribution of the relief items at the Abanga Sub-County headquarters.

She thanked the government for its timely intervention, saying, “As Zombo district and the disaster management committee, we wrote to the office of the OPM and other partners to come and support our people after the disaster. Today, we are very happy to distribute 20,000 kilograms of posho and 10,000 kilograms of beans to the affected persons.”

Atim emphasized the need for responsible use of the relief items, noting that each household will receive 10 kg of posho and 5 kg of beans.

Gabriel Okumu, the Member of Parliament for Okoro County, facilitated the transportation of the relief items from the district headquarters to Abanga Sub-County. Through his campaign manager, Tito Ocamringa, Okumu pledged further commitment to supporting the community’s recovery.

Richard Awekunimungu, the LCIII Chairperson of Abanga Sub-County, clarified that the relief items are intended solely for the 1,355 households selected from the affected parishes, Pakadha and Serr.

Residents like Roseline Ocida and Kiturac Mary, both from Upanu village, expressed their gratitude for the government’s intervention. They shared how the storm had destroyed valuable crops and personal items, plunging them into hardship.

The recent devastation has sparked renewed calls for increased funding for the disaster management committee. Locals and leaders are urging the government to allocate more resources to address the growing number of disaster occurrences in the area.

Among the most affected villages are Pakadha Trading Center, Alengu, Malara, Uduk, Odarlembe, Gira, Alicudu, and Nyoka.

Similar extreme weather events in 2024, including hailstorms and heavy rains, also caused widespread damage in Zeu and Alangi Sub-Counties, destroying crops and de-roofing homes. Environmental experts in the region have pointed to deforestation and other human activities as exacerbating the impacts of climate change, calling for greater environmental conservation efforts.

In addition to the support provided to Zombo, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has also donated relief food to victims of floods in Buliisa District. The donation consists of two tons of maize flour and one ton of beans.

Muzamil Udok Chi, the district councilor for Ngwedo Sub County and the Secretary for Production, Environment, and Natural Resources, confirmed that the items have already arrived in the district store.

He said that the relief will be distributed to flood-affected residents in Butiaba and Buliisa Town Council, as well as Butiaba and Buliisa Sub-Counties, including Wanseko Town Council, where hundreds of people have been severely impacted by the floods.

The distribution of the relief items is set to take place within the week. Asaba Musa Awera, the LC3 Chairperson for Butiaba Town Council, highlighted the significant damage caused by the floods, which have displaced many families. He called on the government to find permanent solutions, such as resettling flood victims, as has been done in other areas like Bududa.

Over 1,000 households have been displaced by the floods in Buliisa District.

Story filed by Mike Rwothomio and Pascal Onega

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