Rwampara Residents Face Devastation After Heavy Rains Destroy Homes and Crops

Residents of Bugamba Sub County in Rwampara District are grappling with significant losses after a powerful rainstorm on Monday evening devastated multiple villages. The torrential rain, coupled with heavy storms, has flattened numerous houses and destroyed vast agricultural gardens, raising immediate concerns about food security.

Key areas like Kitoha, Bushoro, Rugorogoro, Misibika, Nyamabare, and Nyakibaare experienced widespread destruction. For many families, the crops destroyed were on the verge of harvest, exacerbating the impact of the disaster. Local leaders, including Mr. Moses Kweyunga, expressed fears of prolonged food insecurity, estimating that existing food supplies might only last two to three months.

“We were hit by floods which affected our banana plantations; we are stranded because that is our source of food. Even some of our livestock have died because of this rain,” Kweyunga stated, appealing for government aid. Residents like Ms. Agnes Tuhamirembe, who relies on her banana plantation for income to repay bank loans, expressed despair over her destroyed crops and her inability to feed her family.

Ms. Jackline Arisiima, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner, has formally requested emergency relief food and seedlings from the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness. She emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting the immediate need for provisions as families have nothing to sustain themselves.

Local political representatives, such as Rwampara East MP Mr. Charles Ngabirano, are advocating for a more robust government strategy for disaster intervention. They also stressed the importance of empowering local communities with skills in value addition, cultivating resilient crops, and engaging in tree planting as preventative measures against future calamities.

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/rain-leaves-trails-of-destruction-in-rwampara-5570994