Lawyer Phionah Commiserates with People of Mbale

In Summary
  • 23 residents died due to floods.
  • Prime Minister visited the area to asses the damage
  • Homes, Properties were destroyed
Uganda red cross team rescuing victims
Image: courtesy photo

Counsel Phiona Rwandarugali, an independent candidate for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA 2022-2027) has  expressed her wishes for the speedy recovery of people injured in the elgon region flooding disaster.

In a message , Ms. Rwandarugali sympathized with the  people of Elgon Region over casualties caused by the heavy rainfall in Mbale City.

She extended her profound condolences over the lives lost and expressed her heartfelt sympathies to family members of the victims and the missing, as well as people in the disaster-hit region.

"To our people of the Elgon Region, I send my warm sympathies to you in these disastrous times. I pray to God to impart you with all the strength to come out of these tough times," she said.

Catastrophic flooding and landslides in the Eastern Region of Uganda left at least 22 dead and hundreds homeless after heavy rain caused rivers to overflow

Properties destroyed
Image: Courtesy photo

According to Uganda Police Force, flooding and landslides struck following heavy rain on the slopes of Mount Elgon late on 30 July 2022.

Areas of Mbale, Kapchorwa and Sironko Districts in Eastern Region have all been severely affected and Houses were submerged and crops and roads wiped out.

According to Uganda Red Cross, several rivers including the Nabuyonga and Namatala overflowed in in Mbale District.

A mini report by the Mbale Regional Emergency Response Operation Center shows that 80 homes were washed away by floods that hit Mbale City over the weekend.

The report also shows that the floods displaced 5600 people, some of whom have now taken shelter in schools. The report also shows that another 356,000 people are still at risk of floods.

The same report shows that the floods destroyed over 5000 acres of crops including beans, maize, tomatoes, coffee, bananas, and rice among others.

The floods also destroyed 600 head of cattle, 111 pigs, and 4500 chickens. The most affected areas according to the report include Nkoma, Bufumbo, Namabasa, Bukonde, Namayonyi, Kibagala in Mbale city Northern Division and Bugema, Namatala, Malukhu, Marare, Mabanga, Musoto, Masanada, Doko and Nasenyi in Industrial City Division.

The floods, which resulted from heavy rains that pounded Mbale city on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, also claimed several lives. At least 22 bodies have so far been recovered. several people are still missing. The majority of the dead were travelers including Boda boda riders and motorists in small vehicles.

The floods submerged schools such as Khadija Education Center, Bugisu High School, IUIU Primary School, Shekaina Glory Internattional School, Namayonyi SDA and health centers like Ahamadiya Health Center III, Bukasakya Health Center III and Namakwekwe Health Center III.

They also damaged major bridges in Mbale city including Busamaga bridge, Balweta-Nanyonja bridge, Makosi-Namanyoni bridge, Doko-Namabasa bridge, Busanjabwankuba bridge, Nambale bridge on Mbale Tororo road among others.

Dr. John Baptist Woniaye Nambohe, the Commissioner in charge of Emergency Services in the Ministry of Health, says that they are still compiling information about the disaster. He says that the office of the Prime Minister has delivered relief food for distribution to the affected households in Mbale and Kapchorwa districts.

Prime Minister, Robinan Nabanjja who was in Mbale City on Sunday blamed the disaster on environmental degradation. She said that as the government looks for solutions, there is a need for the people living near the river banks should vacate to avoid future calamities.

Uganda National Roads Authority reported floods and mudslides had cut several roads including the Mbale—Nkokonjeru Road and the Mbale—Soroti Road.