Farmers cultivating adjacent to the banks of River Kafu in Hoima and Kyankwanzi districts are counting losses after floods submerged the crops in the gardens. 

The river at the border between Hoima and Kyankwanzi districts burst its banks after a heavy downpour on Monday, November 6, disrupting business and transport in the area.

Rice, beans, maize, potatoes, tomatoes and cabbages are some of the common crops grown around the Kafu wetland. 

Officials from the two districts stated that the floods have submerged several hectares of crop gardens, especially in the villages of Kikonda and Kyamusakazi in Kyankwanzi, as well as Katereiga and Karongo in Buhanika sub-county, Hoima District. 

Florence Kobusinge a rice farmer in Buhanika Sub-County said that she had lost over six acres of rice and she cannot go to her garden up to now. 

Pelusi Kabale, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Kyankwanzi, says that they are still carrying out an assessment because the number could go high since in some areas, the water volumes are still high. 

Locals crossing the river on foot after water volumes started receding. Photo by Wilson Asiimwe

The affected farmers are now calling on the Office of the Prime Minister to provide relief food to the communities and save them from possible starvation. 

Buhanika Sub-County LCIII chairperson Jamil Kasangaki said authorities are compiling a list of the affected residents and will forward the names and property destroyed to the Office of the Prime Minister for assistance. 

“We are registering the people whose property was destroyed by the floods and we shall submit the names to the district authorities so that people can be helped, many of our people are at a loss,” Kasangaki said. 

Justus Mwesige a vegetable farmer in Kikonda said that he lost two acres of cabbages and one acre of tomatoes which were at the harvesting stage. 

“All the vegetables were submerged in the waters and I cannot cross to my garden because the water is too much I don’t have where to pass,” he said. 

Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) also issued warnings to people settling adjacent to the riverbanks to vacate immediately since the water level keeps increasing and is likely to cause more havoc to the neighbouring communities.