KASESE: RIVER NYAMWAMBA BURSTS BANKS, 4000 RESIDENTS DISPLACED

By Isaac Mumbere
in Kasese—–
Some major rivers streaming from the Rwenzori Mountains in Kasese yesterday morning burst their banks causing devastating floods that strayed into the community. Mr. Joseph Singoma, the Kasese District Senior Planner, who also doubles as the Secretary to the Disaster Management Committee confirmed the incident to mk news link.com reporter and wondered why every bad weather condition impacts negatively to the district.
Singoma noted that ever since the rains started befalling in Kasese district this year, more than 4,000 people have been displaced by landslides and are currently hosted at various temporarily established camps across the district. Mr. Jacob Ndobya, a resident of Kyarumba Town Council in Bukonzo County East explained to mk news link.com that when they woke yesterday morning, the water levels of River Nyamughasana in the area had increased.

Mr. Samuel Mbusa, another resident said many people were equally affected by yesterday’s disaster. Augustine Mbusa, who saw the disturbing river causing havoc, asked the district leadership to come their rescue. In Kasese Municipality, floods from River Nyamwamba also swept Kanyaruboga road in Bulembia Division. The said road connects Katiri to Kyanjuki and subsequently Kilembe Secondary School.

Following the destruction of the road, movement of people and their goods came to a standstill for the whole day. Mr. Modesto Baluku and other residents, who had gathered at Kanyaruboga, said that although no life was lost during the incident, business activities were affected following the destruction of the road.

They appealed to government through the local leaders to provide an excavator so that it renovates the already damaged road with the urgency it deserves. Mr. Sylvester Kule Walyuba, the proprietor of Kiwa Heritage Hot Springs, a popular hangout place, says he was forced to run for his life after observing that the hot springs had started flooding.

By press time, Walyauba could not explain the level of damage inflicted on his business by the floods. Our reporter later observed that the floods from River Nyamwamba had strayed into community especially in Mumbuzi, Kizungu, Nyakasanga and Kisanga via the Kamulikwizi water channel.

The Kasese Divisional Police Commander, SP Wilfred Isaiah Bagenda Is also quoted to have posted that about four semi-permanent homes in Basecamp and Katonzi flood plains had been cut off with residents inside. According to him, accessibility to those homes is still limited by high flood waters. He, however, says police rescue teams are on standby to respond to major emergencies, advising residents to avoid crossing flood waters but to relocate to safer zones