By The government is on high alert as different parts of the country brace for more heavy rains that have so far killed 8 people and displaced hundreds in several flood-prone districts.
Environmentalists say flood-prone districts will suffer more because the ground is already waterlogged and yet more rainfall is still expected.
In Kasese and Bunyangabu, a total of seven people have been confirmed dead with several others critically injured following heavy rainfall which poured for hours last Thursday, causing mudslides that buried houses.
In Bunyangabu District, four female family members perished after their house was buried by a mudslide in Buruma Village in Katebwa Sub-county.
The Rwenzori West Police spokesperson, Mr Vincent Twesige, confirmed the incident, stating that the victims were inside the house at the time, while the head of the family was away.
“We have lost four people in the mudslide in Katebwa Sub-county. All their bodies have been retrieved and are now at Katebwa Sub-county headquarters awaiting burial. We have advised all residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate as it is not safe,” he said.
Mr Alex Bwambale, a family member, identified the deceased as Harriet Kabugho, 25, and her child Junior Mubere, Evelyne Biira, 37, and Praise Musoke, 11.
He said Kabugho, who was his sister-in-law, along with others sought refuge in the house when the rain began.
In Kasese District, the mudslide occurred in Mapatha Village of Katooke Parish, where three family members died after their house was submerged.
The bodies of the victims, Edmon Bwambale, 30, his wife Felesi Mbambu, 23, and their one-year-old baby girl, were retrieved last Thursday.
In Kalangala, an island district, floods have displaced 1,000 households.
The floods cut off three landing sites from Bugala, the main Island.
The affected landing sites are Kaazi-Malanga , Mukalanga and Kasamba in Bujumba Sub-county.
Access to the three landing sites from Bugala Island has been by road, but currently, residents have to use boats to connect to the area.
At Kachanga Landing Site, more than 500 households abandoned their homes to higher grounds after their houses collapsed and business premises got submerged in water.
Hajj Abdul Hakim Kateregga, a Muslim leader at Kachanga Landing Site, said floods have destroyed all Muslim projects worth millions of shillings erected on a 5-acre piece of land.
“We had a clinic that was serving residents, a school that hosted over 400 kids, a mosque accommodating 200 worshippers, 50 rental houses, and a clean water source, all of which got submerged in water,” he said.
According to Hajj Kateregga, their piece of land is located 250 metres from the shoreline of Lake Victoria.
However, after the 2021 heavy rains, the lake claimed 50 metres from its 200 metre buffer zone.
At Misonzi Landing Site in Bufumira Sub-county, more than 20 grass thatched mud houses collapsed and more than 500 acres of crops were destroyed.
More than 1,000 people reside at the landing site, most of whom depend on agriculture and fishing as their sources of livelihood.
Mr Yasin Kalenzo, a resident at the same landing site, said he lost his cassava plantation that covered 7 acres.
According to Mr Robert Kigozi, the speaker of Kalangala Town Council, Lutoboka- Kalangala Road, which connects to major beaches and ship docking areas, is currently impassable .
Mr David Omongot, the Kalangala District disaster focal person, said all residents near lake shores and low-lying areas should vacate.
At Mweena Landing Site, with a population of over 800 residents, houses are currently submerged in water.
Two fish handling plants and one acre of oil palm at the same landing site are submerged in water.
At Buziga Landing Site in Mugoye Sub-county, 20 houses and oil palm plantations are submerged in water while at Misozi Landing Site two of 50 submerged houses have since collapsed.
At Bugoma Landing Site in Mugoye Sub-county, homes, restaurants, shops and the docking area for MV Pearl and MV Ssese have been submerged.
Early last month, authorities closed Kamuwunga Primary School in Kalungu District before the end of Term One after flash floods submerged classrooms.
Learners were only invited last week to write their end-of-term exams.
In Kigezi, floods have destroyed several crop gardens, farmlands, bridges, and community access roads.
The Chairman for Kamuganguzi Sub-county in Kabale District, Mr Elias Twesigomwe, last week said: “Most of the gardens and dairy farms in the lowlands and valleys have flooded after the heavy rains that pounded the area for three consecutive days. Dairy farmers have been forced to evacuate their animals to raised lands while others have gathered them in their homes.”
The situation is not different in the neighbouring Kanungu District where some bridges and community access roads have been destroyed.
