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KASESE - River Nyamwamba floods have for the second day wreaked havoc in the heart of Kasese Municipality especially the neighborhoods located in Nyamwamba division.

Several roads have since been cut off, and businesses paralysed. The ongoing Uganda Business and Technical Examination Board (UBTEB) exams have also been disrupted.

The recent heavy rains increased the volume of the waters in the five Major Rivers in Kasese District including Nyamugasana, Nyamwamba, Sebwe, Mubuku, and Rwimi all hailing from the Rwenzori mountain, causing them to burst their banks and cause havoc to various communities neighboring them.

The floods aggressively moved into the Municipality through a water channel at Acholi quarters and spread to areas including Mumbuzi, Kizungu, Nyakasanga, Kisanga, Kamulikwizi among others all being cells within Nyamwamba division.

"I woke up only to realize that our house was sitting in water. I couldn't move out until I hired some strong guys who carried me to dry grounds and later proceed to my workplace,"  said Edith Kyakimwa a resident of Kamulikwizi.

"But again accessing my workplace was too expensive because the boda rider used an alternative road as the usual one was cut off," she added.

The floods aggressively moved into the Municipality through a water channel at Acholi quarters and spread to areas including Mumbuzi, Kizungu, Nyakasanga, Kisanga, Kamulikwizi among others all being cells within Nyamwamba division. (All Photos by Simon Amanyire)

Several bodaboda operators revealed that they have since increased the fares since they have to maneuver through alternative routes which require more fuel. 

Local leaders speak out

Pimako Kasereka the Chairperson LC3 Nyamwamba division attributed the flooding of the river into the town to people who make small Channels, and divert the water to their gardens to do min irrigation.

"Especially people dwelling along the river banks," Pimako said.

Kasereka who was in the field together with the disaster management committee said that they are trying to ascertain the extent of the damage but confirmed that several roads especially the ones that were constructed under the USMID program were cut off, many people displaced, and a number of properties including houses destroyed.

"We are requesting affected people to temporarily seek refuge in their relatives."

"However we have already hired machines that block the river from coming to town," he added.

On Wednesday, Uganda Red Cross Society issued a public alert about the situation in Kasese.

" There is a significant increase in water levels around River Nyamwaba and Namugasani in Kasese. Due to a substantial rise in water levels, the risk of flooding remains high.

"We have deployed response action teams on the ground to ensure the safety of community members, advising them not to cross the rivers, moving to safer places, and sharing more advisories to keep the community informed and safe." read the statement posted on social site X (formerly Twitter).