Storms ravage northern Uganda
Mar 10, 2008
VIOLENT winds caused panic and brought business in Arua town to a standstill on Sunday evening. Thick yellow dust engulfed the central business district, cutting visibility, blowing off roofs and forced motorists to turn on their headlamps.
By Frank Mugabi
VIOLENT winds caused panic and brought business in Arua town to a standstill on Sunday evening. Thick yellow dust engulfed the central business district, cutting visibility, blowing off roofs and forced motorists to turn on their headlamps.
Pedestrians masked their faces with clothes and took refuge under verandahs to escape the winds that were travelling at 10 metres per second.
Shops closed down as the owners fought desperately to save their merchandise from the dust.
The winds that started at around 6:30pm, lasted for about an hour
Residents thought they were experiencing a sand storm.
But the Entebbe Meteorological Department described the situation as violent winds.
Joseph Akorimo, the meteorological bureau observer in Arua, said the winds were caused by the presence of a cumulonimbus cloud in the skies.
Jackson Rwakishaija, the public relations officer, also attributed the winds to the dry season, adding that they had also affected the districts of Soroti, Lira and Pader. The northern region, particularly Karamoja, is expected to experience a dry spell, said Rwakishaija.
“But the residents should not worry.â€
However, it was the first time most residents in Arua town had experienced such winds.
“We were seated at a shop verandah when suddenly thick wind blinded us.
“The air was full of sand. You couldn’t even see the shops across the road,†said Robert Muwanika, a resident and an employee of Eagle Air.
“Such strong winds are fond of sweeping away parked planes but luckily ours were not damaged.â€
VIOLENT winds caused panic and brought business in Arua town to a standstill on Sunday evening. Thick yellow dust engulfed the central business district, cutting visibility, blowing off roofs and forced motorists to turn on their headlamps.
Pedestrians masked their faces with clothes and took refuge under verandahs to escape the winds that were travelling at 10 metres per second.
Shops closed down as the owners fought desperately to save their merchandise from the dust.
The winds that started at around 6:30pm, lasted for about an hour
Residents thought they were experiencing a sand storm.
But the Entebbe Meteorological Department described the situation as violent winds.
Joseph Akorimo, the meteorological bureau observer in Arua, said the winds were caused by the presence of a cumulonimbus cloud in the skies.
Jackson Rwakishaija, the public relations officer, also attributed the winds to the dry season, adding that they had also affected the districts of Soroti, Lira and Pader. The northern region, particularly Karamoja, is expected to experience a dry spell, said Rwakishaija.
“But the residents should not worry.â€
However, it was the first time most residents in Arua town had experienced such winds.
“We were seated at a shop verandah when suddenly thick wind blinded us.
“The air was full of sand. You couldn’t even see the shops across the road,†said Robert Muwanika, a resident and an employee of Eagle Air.
“Such strong winds are fond of sweeping away parked planes but luckily ours were not damaged.â€