Government pledges to support to flood victims as 24 perish and over 1000 homes are destroyed

The Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has pledged government’s support to the victims of vicious floods in Greater Bugisu and Sebei sub region.

Nabbanja says the the government will ensure the mountains and its forest cover is restored to avoid such calamities in the future.  

This development comes as Locals in Mbale City continue to hunt for their missing ones from the River Nabuyonga in Industrial Division and other areas after torrential rains caused hours of flooding.

In Mbale City floods happened after Rivers; Nabuyonga and Namatala burst their banks to spill over villages.

The rains that started on Saturday night pounded through the night till morning leaving many roads impassable, submerging cars and destroying houses in Mbale and the surrounding districts of Sironko, Bulambuli, Manafwa, Kapchorwa among others.

In Mbale City, ten people were confirmed dead on Sunday from Nambasa, Bugwere Cell, Bunghokho Subcounty, Northern Division, Indusrial Division and Mutoto.

Some of the victims included a Uganda People’s Defense Forces Soldier Private Sam Chemulindwa attached to the 53rd Battalion in the 3rd Division. He died while trying to cross the bridge.  

Others include a university student Jane Nekesa, Doreen Tamumza, Babra Kalayi and Rukia Kalayi ; all members of the same family, and Yadi Farouk, all residents of Northern Division in Mbale City.  

On Monday morning, ten more bodies were recovered from a super-custom at the River Nabuyonga, bringing the death toll to 20 people.

Police and residents retrieved the car from the river using ropes.Reports suggest that the deceased were heading to Kabwangasi sub-county in Butebo district from Kampala for an introduction ceremony.   

The Mbale City Resident Commissioner, Ahamda Washaki fears that many more people could have died from the floods and their bodies still in the water. He said that there is a need to deploy the Police Marine Unit to search for the missing bodies.

Meanwhile, heavy rains also killed three people in Kapchorwa, while others were hospitalized. The deceased were killed after rains that started on Saturday caused a landslide in Kapsinda Sub-county, Tingey County in Kapchorwa district.  

Villages around Sironko Town Council, Bukise S/C, Busambya, Bumukha, Doko, Nabirete, Dorcus, Bukiyende, Namirende were also affected with 480 households destroyed. No death or injuries were reported.

In Bulambuli district,areas affected include Dwikhonge S/C, Duwadwala Parish: Villages of Diwadwala, Busiyango, Buyakha, Bunabalayo, Kori, Sipi, Bumugoya, Labongo S/C,Mpumbura parish, Muyende S/C.672 houses were submerged but no deaths or injuries happened.